Rue in Zone 5a & 5b
Ruta graveolens
When to plant rue in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Rue needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Mar 22–Mar 29 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 17–May 24 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 15–Aug 22 (~90 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Rue is a blue-gray, woody-based perennial with a long history as a medicinal herb, though it's grown today mostly for its striking foliage color and as a larval host for swallowtail butterflies rather than for the kitchen. The leaves are toxic in any real quantity and can irritate skin in sunlight, so it's a plant to handle with gloves, not eat.
How rue fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Rue needs about 90 days from transplant to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Rue.
Where to buy rue seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing rue" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Rue in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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