Jenny
I have had a Rue plant for several years - the hoverflies and bees love
its yellow flowers. It does self seed but not too weedy. It was
getting woody so I cut it back and it recovered fine.
I occasionally come out in rashes after cutting plants (leylandii
hedge) but ended up with some large nasty blisters on the backs of my
hands. At the time I did not know what had caused it but later learned
that rue produces a phytoirritant, namely the sap causes a skin
reaction when exposed to light.
I like it as plant, fits well in a naturalistic garden, especially
amongst grasses. Dan Pearson made IMHO an impressive planting at Home
Farm, using rue.
To be honest, the basic rue has a green blue hue to its foliage; the
cultivars are a little more intense and more compact. I personally
would continue to use the species and clip it to keep in shape -
watching the sap getting on my hands.
Clifford
Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire