Rue

Ruta graveolens

Layer 4 · Herbaceous
Pest repellent

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Rue is a perennial subshrub with blue-green foliage and an intense odour, native to the Mediterranean region and the Balkans. In an ecological food forest, it acts effectively as a natural repellent against various pests and unwanted animals due to its potent essential oils. It is an extremely hardy plant that establishes easily in stony, poor soils and through long periods of drought.

See which trees rue grows well with

Pick the central tree on your land and see the full guild.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Full sun
Size: Subshrub up to 1 m
Mature diameter: 0.6 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean, Mountain / cold

Calendar

January
February
March — Planting
April — Planting
May — Harvest
June — Harvest
July — Harvest
August — Harvest
September
October — Planting
November — Planting
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Traditionally used for its antispasmodic and emmenagogue effects, it requires cautious internal use due to its high toxicity.

Where to buy

Grows well with

Central trees this plant has already been paired with.

Strawberry tree

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.