Rue Seeds

Official Name: Ruta graveolens

General description: The rue plant (Ruta graveolens), also known as Ave-grace, garden rue and herb of grace, is part of the Rutacaea plant family. Rue is a perennial herb or small shrub with a strong odor that blooms tiny, greenish-yellow flowers and is native to Southern Europe

How to grow: Rue, grows in sun but tolerates part shade, and grows best in a well-drained good soil of pH 7.0. Rue is easily grown from seed, though slow to germinate. Sow seeds indoors in late winter and transplant seedlings to the garden in late spring. Plants flower in their second year in midsummer.

Benefits: Rue extract is potentially useful as a potassium channel blocker. It has been used to treat many neuromuscular problems and to stimulate the onset of menstruation. Because rue has an antispasmodic effect at relatively low doses, it should be taken with caution.