Ruta chalepensis
Fringed rue
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Rutaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Ruta chalepensis (Fringed rue) is a non-native California subshrub in the Rutaceae family, recognized by Only Ruta species naturalized in California, representing an Old World lineage in the primarily New World citrus family.
Fringed rue is a naturalized perennial found in southern California Coast Ranges, especially near coastal areas, in disturbed places at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces distinctive yellow flowers with fringed, inrolled margins about 6 to 8 millimeters long. Growing with robust stems 40 to 80 centimeters tall, it develops complex 2 to 3-pinnately divided leaves approximately 10 to 20 centimeters long. Its leaves feature intricate segments about 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, narrowly elliptic and entirely smooth-edged. The fruit develops with pointed lobes 7 to 8 millimeters long, containing angular, brownish seeds with distinctive tubercled surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Ruta species naturalized in California, representing an Old World lineage in the primarily New World citrus family
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places
Elevation: generally < 500 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Ruta chalepensis blooms Mar-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Cneoridium: Ruta has compound leaves and yellow fringed petals; Cneoridium has simple opposite leaves and small white flowers.; vs Thamnosma: Ruta has yellow flowers and finely divided compound leaves; Thamnosma has dark purple flowers and simple alternate leaves.; vs Ptelea: Ruta has yellow fringed petals and herbaceous growth; Ptelea has greenish-white smooth petals and woody shrubby growth.; vs Limnanthes: Ruta has yellow flowers and strong pungent scent; Limnanthes has white/yellow flowers and no strong odor.; vs Vancouveria: Ruta has compound leaves with strong scent and yellow flowers; Vancouveria has compound leaves, no scent, and white/yellow flowers with reflexed petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ruta chalepensis native to California?
No. Ruta chalepensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ruta chalepensis bloom?
Ruta chalepensis blooms Mar-Aug.
What plant family does Ruta chalepensis belong to?
Ruta chalepensis is in the Rutaceae family, genus Ruta.
What habitat does Ruta chalepensis grow in?
Ruta chalepensis grows in Uncommon. Disturbed places.
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.