rue

Rue, or Ruta graveolens, is a species of herbaceous plant in the rue family, Rutaceae. Common rue is grown as an ornamental plant and, in some regions, as a culinary herb. It is native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia and has become widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere. The plant is a perennial shrub with woody stems, bluish-green pinnate leaves and small yellow flowers. Rue contains chemical compounds such as furanocoumarins that can cause photosensitivity, and it can be toxic in large amounts. For this reason, it is generally used with caution in traditional medicine and is not widely recommended for everyday culinary use by home cooks.

Rue is also the English spelling of the French word rue, meaning street. It appears in addresses, place names, and historical references, and is the source of many toponyms in languages influenced by French.

As a verb in English, rue means to feel regret or remorse about something; to rue the day is a common idiom.

Rue is used as a given name and surname. In popular culture, Rue is the name of a character in The Hunger Games, a young tribute from District 11. In the television series Euphoria, Rue Bennett is the name of the main character.