Rue

As I had stated I would post about the herbs that is in the sunset illustrated book of herbs..
I have not tried to plant this as I haven't been able to find it....

 

Rue ( Herb-of Grace)

Ruta Graveolens

Rutaceae ( Rue Family)

Perennial; hardy to -20 F/ -29 C.

 

 

Jut one whiff of Rue`s powerful aroma and the word " Medicine" springs to mind. And despite the occasional ( and spare ) use of rue in cooking, its  herbal history is mainly medicinal.

From the time of ancient Greece through the middle ages, rue was thought to protect against magic and witchcraft. In the first century A.D., Pliny stated that consumption of Rue helped preserve eyesight, a belief that has endured through the centuries in Italy. Its folk name, Herb of, may stem from the brushes made of rue that once used in church services to sprinkle holy water.

Rue and its pungent scent figure in Europe's plague-ridden history. The aroma believed to be both repellent and disinfectant, so springs of rue were used in prisons and courts of law to ward off germs and pestilence. As a strewing herb, it was employed for the same purpose.

Belief in such properties was reinforced when it was learned that rue was an ingredient in " four Thieves " vinegar, a concoction drunk by thieves themselves who robbed bodies of plague victims, yet failed to contract the disease.

 

DESCRIPTION:

 The word " fern like" has aptly been applied to rue. The plant is a bushy perennial, decked out is soft bluish green leaves divided into numerous segments to produce a filigree effect, like that of maidenhair fern. The foliage is aromatic, but the scent produced merely by brushing against it is often perceived as unpleasant--and the sap in the leaves and stems can cause a skin rash in susceptible individuals.

Rue plants are shrubby and more or less rounded, growing to 2 to 3 feet high and wide. In spring clusters of 1/2-inch greenish yellow blossoms make a substantial show and then form seed capsules that have some decoration value when dry.

Two variant plants are fairly widely available from perennials and herb specialist. ." Jackmans Blue` makes a smaller plant to about 1 1/2 feet high, bearing distantly bluish grey leaves; all plants are raised from cuttings..

Bluish green leaves irregularly splashed in cream and yellow are the feature of 'variegata', which can be raised from seed as well as cuttings.

 

CULTURE:

 Rue is tough plant that will survive drought and poor soil. But it grows and looks better in average to good well-drained soil with moderate to regular watering. If your soil is decidedly acid, add lime when preparing soil to reduce acidity.

Cut back plants early spring to encourage bushiness an pinch stem tips at any time to stimulate more branching. You can start from seed or from cuttings taken in late spring or summer.

 

HARVESTS &USES:

Nowadays, rue is chiefly a decorative herb, planted both for its contribution to garden beauty and for its dried seed heads, which are attractive in arrangements. Despite its medicinal history, avoid ingesting rue; in large does its toxic and skin irrigation is always a possibility.

 

 

This was copied from the sunset herbs an illustrated guide....

 

ENJOY!