Rue is a small evergreen subshrub or semi woody perennial 2-3' tall and almost as wide. The stems become woody near the base, but remain herbaceous nearer the tips. The 3-5" long leaves are dissected pinnately into oblong or spoon shaped segments. They are somewhat fleshy and usually covered with a powdery bloom.

The sea green foliage has a strong, pungent, rather unpleasant scent when bruised. The paniculate clusters of small yellow flowers appear in midsummer, held well above the foliage and often covering most of the plant. Each flower is about a half inch across with four concave notched petals. Rue usually grows in a compact, rounded mound. 'Jackman's Blue' has beautiful bluish green foliage and stays in a tight, rounded form, smaller than the species; this is the most popular cultivar in Europe. 'Blue Beauty' is small, to 18" tall, with powdery blue foliage. 'Variegata' has white splashes on the leaves and is often used in floral arrangements.

Credits for this Page
FloridaData.com   Gernot Katzer’s Spice Pages   Ruda Graphic

Ruda Properties Favored by Aztec's

• Provokes Menstruation that is why it is very important that pregnant women should refrain from using this herb.
• Calms pain associated with hepatitic colic or intestinal.
• Useful in Treating Nervous Diseases.
• Regulates Hearts Palpitations.
• Kills Lice and their Eggs(nits).
• and is also used for cleaning exposed ulcers, sores, wounds.

Aztec's Method of Use

• Drink 2 cups a day of the infusion made from 3 to 5 grams of Fresh Ruda, to 1 liter of water. If You Use Dry Ruda Use Only Half the Dose.
• To Eliminate Lice and Nits:  Apply a Strong Massage to the Head after Washing with the following Treatment:
  Boil 35 grams of Ruda, after letting cool a while apply to head and soak well, then wrap with a linen or cotton cloth, after 1 hour, comb well.
• To Clean Exposed Ulcers, Sores..etc,..:   Boil 20 to 30 grams of Ruda and Clean the Area.