Peganum harmala
African rue, syrian rue, Syrian Rue
(c) Ostenfuchs, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Nitrariaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Peganum harmala (African rue) is a non-native California herb in the Nitrariaceae family, recognized by Recent introduction to limited area, sole representative of this Old World family in California.
African rue is a naturalized perennial found in the northwestern San Bernardino and southeastern Kern county areas of the Mojave Desert, growing along roadsides, abandoned fields, and degraded rangeland at elevations of 60 to 730 meters. Flowering from April to November, this plant produces white to yellow flowers with petals less than 17 millimeters long in a cup-shaped disk arrangement. Growing with prostrate to ascending stems up to 90 centimeters tall that can root along the ground, the plant ranges from hairy to nearly smooth. Its leaves are variable, ranging from slightly hairy to completely glabrous, with a somewhat sprawling growth habit. The fruit is round, up to 15 millimeters in diameter, and smaller than the plant's sepals.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Recent introduction to limited area, sole representative of this Old World family in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, abandoned fields, degraded rangeland
Elevation: 60-730 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Nevada, Texas, native Mediterranean to central Asia
Bloom period
Peganum harmala blooms Apr-Nov.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
Frequently asked questions
Is Peganum harmala native to California?
No. Peganum harmala is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Peganum harmala bloom?
Peganum harmala blooms Apr-Nov.
What plant family does Peganum harmala belong to?
Peganum harmala is in the Nitrariaceae family, genus Peganum.
Is Peganum harmala invasive in California?
Peganum harmala is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Peganum harmala grow in?
Peganum harmala grows in Roadsides, abandoned fields, degraded rangeland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.