Description

The Bush Rue is the only member of its genus, and one of the few representatives of the citrus family (Rutaceae) in California. It is most prevalent in chaparral and coastal scrub in San Diego County. The form is open and mounding, with small linear leaves contrasting with light gray bark on tortuous branches. In the spring small white flowers appear. These are sweetly fragrant, as one would expect from citrus. Small reddish green berries follow the bloom. In late summer, the leaves of the bush rue will respond to hot dry weather by turning yellow. It’s not clear whether this is prevented with additional water. All in all, the bush rue offers an unusual range of visual contributions to the garden. The bush rue is adaptable to a variety of soil types but should be sited in sunny areas. Despite its southern origins, bush rue tolerates cold to at least 15F.