African rue (Peganum harmala) is native to North Africa and to the Mediterranean region. It was introduced into the U.S. around the 1920s and was first noticed in the Deming area, but is now common near Carlsbad and throughout southern New Mexico. The plant favors disturbed and barren areas such as oil pads, roadsides, parking lots, corrals, stockyards, and abandoned crop fields. African rue is expanding into rangeland and can dominate pastures because it is very drought tolerant. The plant’s deep and robust perennial root system is a major obstacle to plant control.
