3 gallon

Rue (Ruta graveolens) is an evergreen herb or small shrub known for its bluish-green, gland-dotted foliage and fragrant, bittersweet aroma. It has a history of use in cooking, traditional medicine, and even folklore. While it can be used in small amounts in cooking and has some medicinal properties, it’s important to be aware of its potential toxicity and to handle it with care.

Ruta graveolens, also known as common rue, is an evergreen perennial herb that is hardy from USDA zones 4-11 and grows about 2-3 feet tall. It should be mulched heavily for winter in northern areas. Rue grows well even in poor dry soils but needs well drained soil to thrive. It is quite drought tolerant after it is established.

Rue plants prefer full sun but will do well even with a little shade. Rue can also be grown in containers if you are butterfly gardening in a small area.

The foliage can be described as sea-green, powdery blue, or bluish-green. It tends to be greener for new growth and develop more of a bluer look as it matures. It is a nice color addition to a garden and has many bright yellow flowers in the early summer. It will continue with a few blooms here and there throughout much of the summer.

Rue Plants for Butterflies

The rue plant is the Host Plant for three different types of butterflies. The Black Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, and the Giant Swallowtail butterflies use this plant (among others) to lay their eggs, so their caterpillars can eat the foliage and grow.

With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, the entire United States is home to either the Anise Swallowtail or the Black Swallowtail butterflies (or both). Generally the Anise Swallowtail butterfly is more prevalent to the west of the Rockies and the Black Swallowtails are found more to the East of the Rockies.

Giant Swallowtails are found all across the South, Central and Eastern United States. It is the largest butterfly in North America.

Black Swallowtail butterflies will usually lay their eggs singularly on the new growth of rue. Their butterfly eggs are light yellow. Giant Swallowtail butterflies prefer to lay butterfly eggs on the flowers of the rue plant if there are any. Their eggs have a golden tone to them.

The Black Swallowtail caterpillars take about two weeks to grow before they are ready to crawl off and pupate while the Giant Swallowtails take longer. They get bigger than the Black Swallowtails. The Giant Swallowtails spend most of their caterpillar life stage

looking like bird droppings while the Black Swallowtails change significantly and are quite pretty in their later stages.