Ruta graveolens – Rue officinale

Ruta graveolens is a highly fragrant perennial known for its bluish leaves and medicinal properties.

The flowers are small and pale yellow, contrasting beautifully against the sea of grey foliage.

👨‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾:

• • Rue can cause severe phytophotodermatitis (seere blistering on the skin) in some people, though the reasons and function of it is currently unknown.

Learn more about Gardening with: Ruta Graveolens

• • ENG: Plantura – Rue: Flower, Growing & Uses

  • FR: Ouest France – Comment cultiver la Rue officinale?

The Tale & The Botany: Ruta Graveolens

Graveolens refers to the strong-smelling leaves.

🌿 Medicinal Uses of Ruta graveolens

The refined oil of rue (Ruta graveolens) is a traditional emmenagogue, a type of herb that stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. It has been historically used to support menstrual health and help address certain hormonal imbalances.

🍹 Culinary & Beverage Uses

In the Mediterranean region, especially Istria, local grappa or ruki is gently flavored with rue, sometimes with a whole branch floating in the bottle. This gives a subtle herbal aroma and reflects traditional Mediterranean culinary uses of Ruta graveolens.

🐾 Animal Repellent

Most cats dislike the strong scent of rue, making it a natural deterrent for gardens or homes. This property is often used in organic pest management or pet-friendly gardening.

✨ Ritual & Cultural Significance

• Jewish Traditions: During Yom Kippur, Sephardic synagogues sometimes distribute ruda (rue) to congregants, symbolizing protection from malevolent forces and revitalization during fasting.

• Medieval Flower Bouquets: Rue has been collected with small flowers into nosegays, posies, or tussie-mussies, often wrapped in decorative doilies, a tradition dating back to medieval times.

🐉 Mythology

In folklore, the basilisk, a legendary creature whose breath could wilt plants and crack stones, had no effect on rue, highlighting its mythological reputation as a protective and resilient herb.

🌸 Floral Morphology

Ruta graveolens, commonly known as common rue or garden rue, is a Mediterranean evergreen perennial shrub with aromatic, bluish-green, finely divided leaves.

It produces small, fragrant yellow flowers arranged in cymes or panicles from late spring through summer, adding vibrant color to dry, sunny gardens.

The foliage is slightly pubescent and rough, helping reduce water loss and giving a soft silvery appearance under sunlight.

🌱 Reproductive Biology

The flowers are bisexual and promote cross-pollination, attracting bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial pollinators.

Seeds are contained in small capsules and disperse easily by wind or gravity, allowing rapid naturalization in dry, Mediterranean-like conditions.

🌍 Ecology & Adaptations : Ruta Graveolens

Native to the Mediterranean region, Ruta graveolens thrives in rocky, nutrient-poor, well-drained soils, and tolerates coastal winds and salt spray. Key adaptations include:

• Drought tolerance via pubescent, aromatic foliage

• Low nutrient requirements, ideal for poor or sandy soils

• Evergreen leaves that minimize transpiration

• Rapid regrowth after light pruning, facilitating maintenance and natural propagation