Rue is a small evergreen subshrub or semiwoody perennial 2-3 ft tall and almost as wide. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, especially because of its bluish leaves, and also sometimes for its tolerance of hot and dry soil conditions. It also is grown as both a medicinal herb and as a condiment. The 3-5 in 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 spring, held well above the foliage and often covering most of the plant. Each flower is about 0.5 in across with four concave notched petals. Rue usually grows in a compact, rounded mound. Common rue is native to southern Europe and northern Africa.
Medicinal uses: In European folk medicine, rue is said to relieve gas pains and colic, improve appetite and digestion, and promote the onset of menstruation and uteral contractions. For this reason the refined oil of rue has been cited by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder and the gynecologist Soranus, as a potent abortifacient (inducing abortion). Rue contains pilocarpine which is used in horses to induce abortion, and is a traditional abortifacient among Hispanic people in New Mexico.