- You will get 300 Seeds of Rue Insect Pest Repellent Spring Heirloom Herbs Flea Medicinal Herb Seeds. - Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Peat, Sand, Silt. - Sunlight: Full Sun, Medium Sun. - Life Cycle: Perennial. - Watering: Medium. - Cultivating Difficulty: Easy. - Rue is considered, by many, to be the top insect repelling plant in the world! It is said to even ward off fleas! - Rue is a perennial that is quite tolerant of drought like conditions. - Rue was introduced to England by the Romans who used it extensively as a Medicinal herb. - The smell of rue can ward off deer, dogs, cats, fleas and even Japanese Beetles. - It has a unique bushy habit for an herb and is tolerant of nutrient poor, dry soils. - If rue is pruned to control its bush like habit, it can be a useful hedge - It will thrive almost anywhere but grows best in a sheltered and dry area. - Rue grows well in poor, partially rocky soil. In fact, in poor soil, rue supposedly becomes even more Winter hardy! - Disease of Poultry and Cattle have been treated with Rue. - The fresh and dried portions of Rue are used. - The unique flowers of Rue are often times used for cut flower arrangements. - Rue should be handled only with gloves to prevent skin irritation. - Do not consume Rue before consulting a physician, and always use extreme care when handling Rue. - Rue's smell is so strong it is said to be a deer deterrent. This is attributed to the fact that rue is in the citrus family and thus has a strong scent.