African rue
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Peganum harmala
Colorado noxious weed · List A — Eradicate. CO-rules-2025
Uncommon in Colorado. All populations are designated for eradication statewide. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.
Highly poisonous if eaten; deep-rooted invader. Exposure help.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. The cited findings are available below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.
Alex Abair · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Alex Abair · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Alex Abair · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
Bright green, branching stems carry divided, narrow leaves and small white flowers with five petals. NPS-african
Plants & habitat
Deep roots, drought tolerance and plentiful seeds allow invasion of disturbed dry ground. Root fragments can sprout. NPS-african WA-african-rue
People
The National Park Service describes ingestion as highly toxic. Do not taste or use this plant as a home remedy. NPS-african
Dogs & cats
The source warns of animal poisoning broadly; it supplies no dog- or cat-specific dose. Keep pets from eating plants or seeds. NPS-african
Evidence scope: General animal warning; pet thresholds unknown.
Other animals
Ingestion is a serious animal-poisoning concern. Seek veterinary advice after suspected exposure. NPS-african
Evidence scope: General animal warning.
Before taking action
Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27
This is a statewide eradication priority. Contact your county weed program promptly for identification and an approved management and disposal plan. CO-rules-2025
References
- CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- NPS-african — African Rue, US National Park Service. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:21:13+00:00. Locator: Species identity, description, ecology and exposure evidence.
- WA-african-rue — African rue, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:18:56+00:00. Locator: Species or hybrid identity, description and ecology.
- S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.