Companion Planting Rue

Often found in homeopathic remedies, rue (ruta graveolens) also known as herb of grace is a beneficial companion plant. Companion planting rue will help to deter many pests including aphids, flea beetles, onionfly larvae, beetles, slugs, and snails. Take care when handling rue as it can cause skin irritation.

Companion Planting Rue

A mediterranean herb rue will tolerate hot, dry soils and is widely grown as an ornamental plant. It is a toxic plant and eating large quantities will cause vomiting, stomach pain, and even death. The benefits of companion planting rue are worth while however as long as you take care when handling it.

If your question is what can I grow with rue? Companion plants for rue include:-

Onions

To prevent onionfly larval damage grow rue as a companion plant with your onions. The onionfly doesn’t like the scent from the rue and they will look elsewhere to lay their eggs.

Roses

Growing roses and rue as companions will keep aphids away from your roses and the blue blush to the rue leaves adds a nice contrast.

Figs

Another mediterranean plant, figs can tolerate relatively dry conditions and rue will grow well underneath fig trees. Rue grows to around 12 inches ( 30 cms) high and will help to deter insect pests. Particularly useful when figs are fruiting, rue will keep fruitflies away.

Some experts say to keep rue and figs apart but none give any reason for this and I have not observed any problems growing them together.

Raspberries

To keep aphids and beetles away from your raspberries grow rue as a companion plant. To find out more on what grows well with raspberries click here.

Lavender

Rue and lavender both originate in the meditteranean and so will both grow well together.

Alpine Strawberries

Also known as wild strawberries, these have a smaller berry and a distinct flavour. They are a quick spreading plant and great for groundcover. Companion planting rue with alpine strawberries will keep the bad bugs away including aphids. Slugs are attracted to strawberries and rue deters slugs.

What Not To Grow With Rue

Never grow rue close to the following plants:-

Basil

Rue exudes chemicals through its roots that will inhibit the growth of basil.

Sage

Another herb that does not grow well if grown near rue.

Cabbage

Most experts agree that cabbage and rue should be grown serarately but no one says why. It is a possibility that the chemicals that affect basil also affect cabbages, however it’s more likely that rue atttracts whitefly.

Whitefly is a common pest in most brassicas.

Cucumber

There are many herbs that will improve the health of your cucumber plants, however rue is not one of them. keep rue away from cucumbers and never try to grow them together.

Mint

Another herb that should be kept away from rue.