Rue in Zone 6a & 6b
Ruta graveolens
When to plant rue in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b 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 7–Mar 14 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 2–May 9 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 31–Aug 7 (~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 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. 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 6b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Rue in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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