Rue, glorious Rue!
Common Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Stinky, but useful! I grow it because it's a host plant for two butterflies - the Black Swallowtail and the Giant Swallowtail. Since we gardeners never have enough space, I like a plant that does double duty! I did plant a Wild Lime this year for the Giant STs, though. Also, parsley and dill seem to fade in the heat which is just about the time the Swallowtails show up in force. So bad timing. I don't grow herbs for my own use, so I tend to prefer Rue. It can take the heat, and it feeds two kinds of caterpillars. Efficient! And now...I have to get out of bed and go pick some Rue because the caterpillars look hungry. They always look hungry!
