Plant Details

Ruta graveolens

Rue, Common rue, Herb of Grace, Garden Rue

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Common names

46 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
+6 more namesShow fewer names
  • Countryman's Treacle[2]
  • Garden Rue[2]
  • Herb of Grace[2]
  • Herb Of Repentance[2]
  • Herb Of Repentence[2]
  • Rue[1][2]
Other languages (28)
Dutch
French
  • Rue officinale[2]
Afrikaans
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Czech
  • routa vonná[2]
Danish
  • almindelig rude[2]
Finnish
  • tuoksuruuta[2]
German
Hungarian
  • kerti ruta[2]
Italian
  • ruta comune[2]
Japanese
  • ヘンルウダ[2]
  • ヘンルーダ[2]
Lithuanian
  • Žalioji rūta[2]
Mazahua
Norwegian
Polish
  • Ruta zwyczajna[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Рута душистая[2]
Slovak
  • ruta voňavá[2]
Slovenian
  • vinska rutica[2]
Sotho
Spanish
Swedish
Tsotsil
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Рута запашна[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ruta graveolens L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Duftende Raute (DE); Common Rue — VernacularName.tsv, line 173243; taxon 4TT2S.
  • Rue (EN); Ruda comun (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 173244; taxon 4TT2S.
  • Wein-Raute — VernacularName.tsv, line 173245; taxon 4TT2S.
[2] Ruta graveolens — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • lotta — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • lura — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Rue — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • 臭草 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Ruda — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Rue officinale — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Arruda — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • routa vonná — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Wijnruit — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • vinrute — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • tuoksuruuta — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Ruda vera — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Wein-Raute — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • ヘンルーダ — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • ヘンルウダ — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Žalioji rūta — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • 芸香 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • 芸香 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • sedef otu — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • vinruta — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Ruta zwyczajna — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • almindelig rude — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Рута душистая — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Binnewortel — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • wynruit — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • wynryk — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Ave Grace — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Common Rue — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Countryman's Tracle — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Countryman's Treacle — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Garden Rue — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Herb Of Grace — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Herb Of Repentance — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Herb Of Repentence — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • tloro — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • ruta comune — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • vinska rutica — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Rutvica — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Smrdljiva rutvica — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Ruta — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • kerti ruta — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Рута запашна — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • Tloro ya ngwale — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.
  • ruta voňavá — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 147294; Ruta graveolens.

General information

Scientific name: Ruta graveolens
Accepted name (Kew): Ruta graveolens L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rutaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Ruta (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Rue, Common rue, Herb of Grace, Garden Rue
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen, Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Mounding

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Essential oil, Repellent, Ground cover, Fragrant

Description

Leaves can be eaten raw or used as a flavoring. Although they are sometimes included in salads, they are strongly aromatic and mildly toxic, so they should only be used in small amounts. The taste is intense and bitter. The leaves contain rutin, which is beneficial for circulation. They should be handled with care due to their toxicity; see the section on toxicity below. The leaves can also be used to make tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 271816; name ID 2527513; Ruta L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 271761; name ID 2527408; Ruta graveolens L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ruta graveolens

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1165591, ID 4TT2S: Ruta graveolens L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Ruta graveolens — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .