Ruta graveolens

The Common Rue (Ruta graveolens), despite its unappealing name, is a very ornamental aromatic and medicinal perennial plant, with blue-green foliage and beautiful sulphur-yellow summer flowering. Also known as Garden Rue or Rue officinale, it emits a very distinctive smell, renowned for repelling unwanted pests in the house and garden. It is also used in cooking, but sparingly as its taste is bitter. Planting in spring.

The Common Rue, sometimes called Rue officinale, Rue Puante, Rue des Jardins or Herbe de Grâce, is a perennial plant belonging to the Rutaceae family. It forms a ramified subshrub that can reach 80cm (32in) in height and 70cm (28in) in width. Its blue-green foliage is composed of lobed leaves. It displays small flowers (about 1cm (0.3in)) from June to September, sulphur-yellow with 4 to 5 petals and large stamens. It is perfectly hardy, at least down to -15°C.

Highly prized by the Romans, common in medieval gardens, and highly appreciated in Britain, the Common Rue is best known for its smell, quite unusual, with a slight hint of coconut. Rue officinale is sometimes used in cooking, sparingly, to add a touch of bitterness to omelettes, white meats, etc. but it is mainly in the garden and at home that it finds its usefulness. Planted around the vegetable garden or in a bed, it repels cats, which often take great pleasure in scratching in mulch or in the location of new sowings. Bouquets or sachets of dried Rue leaves repel ants, mice, and moths in the house.

Rue is also used as a medicinal plant for its tonic, stimulating, and vermifuge properties... But beware, it is a plant that can be toxic, and should only be used by those who are knowledgeable.

In the garden, Common Rue thrives in sun, in ordinary, dry, and even rocky soil. It is not afraid of limestone or high temperatures and is one of those plants that laughs in the face of adversity: the more difficult the conditions, the more it thrives. It can be placed in a dedicated area for aromatic and medicinal plants or in a perennial bed as it is also ornamental.

Harvesting: It is done from the 2^nd year. Simply collect a few branches before flowering if you want to dry the leaves.

Storage: Storage is done in sachets once the plant is well dried.

Gardener's tip: Some plants, including Rue, are photosensitizing. In summer, remember to protect your hands when gardening nearby as its action, combined with sunlight, can cause burns.