Is Rue deer resistant?

Blue-green filigree foliage with a strong bitter smell. The sap causes severe blistering in sunlight on contact with skin, so wear long sleeves and gloves when cutting it back.

Do deer eat rue?

Rarely. Rutgers rates the genus Rarely Damaged, A, Iowa State lists rue in the top tier of herbs, and NC State lists deer and rabbits among what Ruta graveolens resists, along with drought, dry soil, poor soil, insect pests and disease. The bitter, acrid smell is the reason, and it is strong enough that rue was once planted to keep more than deer away.

Where it grows

NC State: zones 4a to 10b, 2 to 3 feet, full sun or partial shade, yellow flowers summer into fall, and one problem, "Short-lived." The other problem is the gardener's. NC State rates rue a Medium-severity poison to people, furocoumarins, "potentially fatal" in quantity, and gives the handling rule twice: "wear gloves when working with the plant," and "Wear long sleeves and gloves when pruning or handling the foliage." The sap on skin in sunlight blisters.

Protecting rue

Nothing from deer. Protect yourself from the rue.

If it is browsed

It regrows from the woody base; it is cut back hard in spring anyway to keep it compact, and a browse does the same job worse. A plant that dies at four or five years was going to.