Got this rue over the weekend. I like that it is very drought tolerant and loves hot areas..that I can easily provide for sure. Just had it repotted, very mindful of possible allergic reactions. Thankfully it is warm and overcast today. Been reading about it..lots of interesting qualities. I like too that it is very cold tolerant..so I can leave it outdoors year round. I like the way new leaves clump/cluster in the middle.

I put two in the ground 2-3 months ago, they sat there for a while looking pretty good and then both suddenly declined. Not sure why but I tossed them. I may try one again in another spot.

Oh, thanks for your feedback Sue! My plant is also on decline mode right now, so confusing..but I will not give up on it yet. Maybe I have to give it some more water on this first year.

Paul's photo is what made me want ti try it.

I tried it after the tag says occasional watering and hardiness to 0F...seems perfect for the prevailing drought conditions.

Thanks for sharing Paul's photo Sue! Something to hope for!

Surprise, surprise! It seems my Ruta graveolens is now making a comeback after appearing to be on the brink of death!

New growth near the base of the plant: I wonder what triggered the turn around...the more sustained warmth or the little stepped up watering I gave..or both? Or is it just like some succulents that go into a certain phase of dropping old growth to make way for new growth as the seasons change??? Will see how it goes with the temps just staying in the low to mid 80's this time.

Just some photo updates of my Ruta graveolens. With the continued temp cool down and the plant just getting part sun/part shade, seems to like it better. I have not removed the dried out parts yet, helps to see the improvement in its growth.

Just to update this thread..I lost this plant early summer last year, and for awhile I thought it was trying to come back this Feb after all these months, but the little growth I saw disappeared too..oh well.

Too bad, guess it's not meant for our climate.

You know, I think I tried that in FB and it did not make it there either....I'd always thought it to be a tough plant.....

I've had some luck with it. I'm on the central coast, like 8b/9a. Doesn't even mind a little shade, I'm in a canyon and I don't get a lot of sun in winter.
Grows good from seed so if you'd like some seeds I probably have some in my "seed trade" box.
It is a pretty little plant and I haven't had a reaction to it but I'm being careful with it around the grand-kids and it's in my fenced butterfly garden.
It's stayed about 16" tall. I was pretty brutal when I cleaned it up after blooming. I figured it would either make it or not, and it's still here.

I always had the idea that it got to be one of the large, sprawling type plants and was quite tough...guess not. I did plant one in FB and was careful about situating it since I'd read that it's supposedly alelopathic. I thought that where I planted it was the cause of it not doing well.

Oh lucky you Dee! I have pulled out the plant, cleaned that container and now it is the home of a bromeliad I got recently in a trade.

You know I "try" a lot of plants. I've been known to give a plant numerous "tries" before being defeated. It took three plants before I finally got a Gunnera to survive for me. The Rue probably survived for spite, after I read all about it I decided I probably shouldn't even be growing it. I guess some people have a horrible reaction to it and it is poisonous if eaten. I have toddler grand-kids in my garden so I try not to have plants that can be deadly.