Ruta angustifolia
Ruta angustifolia · Rutaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around ruta angustifolia and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, finely cut and bluish
- Flowering
- July to September, small clusters of yellow flowers
- Adult size
- 0.6 to 1 m tall, compact and rounded habit
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9 to 11, sensitive to severe frosts
- Origin
- Mediterranean (Eastern basin)
- Soil type
- Well-drained, chalky, drought-tolerant
Care
Sun Exposure
Plant your narrow-leaved rue in full sun, minimum 6 hours daily. This is essential for promoting flowering and maintaining compact foliage. It tolerates Mediterranean heat very well.
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season, then reduce considerably once established. In dry regions, occasional watering during prolonged droughts is sufficient. Avoid excess moisture which can rot the roots.
Soil
Grow rue in well-drained soil, ideally chalky or rocky. Enrich the soil with gravel or coarse sand if drainage is insufficient. This plant thrives very well in poor and stony soils.
Pruning and Cutting
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape and encourage branching. Remove dead or damaged branches in spring. Annual moderate pruning is sufficient; avoid severe cuts.
Fertilizing
No fertilizer is necessary in proper soil. In containers, a light balanced fertilizer in spring may suffice. Prefer light organic amendment rather than rich chemical fertilizer.
Diseases and Pests
Rue is generally hardy in dry climates. Watch for root rot in case of excess winter moisture. Pests are rare; good air circulation prevents most problems.
Did you know?
Rue has been used since Antiquity in traditional Mediterranean medicine and appears in Roman botanical texts. Its strongly aromatic foliage has a characteristic, bitter and penetrating scent, which explains its old name 'herb of grace' and its emblematic role in Italian and Spanish gardens.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.