Bush rue
Cneoridium dumosum
Last reviewed: October 2026
Bush rue (Cneoridium dumosum) is a perennial shrub native to CA. It blooms in February, March, and April. The flowers draw bees.
Toxicity unknown
Bush rue (Cneoridium dumosum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
24"–48" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr
Native to
CA
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Bush rue.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
A dense, rounded evergreen shrub called bushrue, with small aromatic leaves dotted with oil glands and tiny white star-shaped flowers in early spring. Keeps a neat compact form with little pruning.
Growing Bush rue
Grow Bush rue in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for giant swallowtail.
A larval host plant for giant swallowtail butterflies, whose caterpillars mimic bird droppings on the foliage.
Common questions
- How much sun does Bush rue need?
- Bush rue grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Bush rue bloom?
- Bush rue blooms in February, March, and April.
- Where is Bush rue native?
- Bush rue (Cneoridium dumosum) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Bush rue host?
- Bush rue is a larval host plant for giant swallowtail.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Bush rue? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.