Rue
Rue is a herb in the Rutaceae family. It grows best in full sun with dry to medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 4-13. Plants reach harvest about 64–86 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.
Varieties
1 from Seeds Now · sorted by days to maturity▸Rue64–86 days
Can tolerate hot temperatures; Direct sow; Grows well in full sun; Grows well with containers; Grows well with raised beds; Matures in <90 days; Start indoors; Super easy to grow
Needs full sun to grow well It is drought tolerant and rarely, if ever needs to be watered Rue has a long history of use as a domestic remedy, being especially valued for its strengthening action on the eyes The plant contains flavonoids that reduce capillary fragility, which might explain the plants reputation as an eye strengthener. Days to Maturity | 75 days **Warning** Although rue is safe when used correctly, it is considered a toxic herb that can cause side effects such as severe rashes, mood swings, sensitivity to light, stomach pains, dizziness, liver and kidney damage, sleep disorders & muscle spasms. Follow SeedsNow.com's board Rue on Pinterest.
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Plant spacing
In a square-foot bed, space rue about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.
Plan your rue planting
Add rue to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Refrigerate stems in water, or wrap in a damp towel for a few days.
- Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.
- Freeze: Freeze chopped in oil or water in ice-cube trays.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Companion planting — with cited sources
From US/Canada cooperative-extension publications and peer-reviewed studies. Evidence-tier dots show how strongly each recommendation is backed: ●●● peer-reviewed mechanism · ●● extension consensus · ● traditional knowledge with a plausible mechanism.
Avoid planting near (4)
- BasilEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationallelopathy-negative
Rue is allelopathic: basil is reported to grow poorly near it due to compounds released from its roots and leaf litter.
Source: S7, Putnam & Tang
- Common CabbageEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationallelopathy-negative
Rue is traditionally kept away from cabbage.
Source: S7
- Common CucumberEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationallelopathy-negative
Cucumbers are reported to do poorly near rue.
Source: S7
- Common SageEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationallelopathy-negative
Sage suffers near rue's allelopathic exudates.
Source: S7, Putnam & Tang
Sources cited
- S36
- Putnam & Tang (eds.), 1986 — allelopathy compendium
- S7
- University of Minnesota Extension
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for rue yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.