Growing Rosella, also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle

Hibiscus Subdantta : Malvaceae / the mallow family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S             S S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P             P P P P

(Best months for growing Rosella in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden, or start in seed trays. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 140 cm apart
  • Harvest in 21-25 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Feverfew, Coriander, Nasturtium and Hyssop

Your comments and tips

07 Dec 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
Here suggests tropical and sub-tropical, you are temperate. I suggest you check the soil moisture before you water each time. Have a little scratch in the soil down 50-70 mm. This will tell you if the soil is wet or has dried out. Little plants a small watering each day or so, when plants have established a good root system less water, like each 2-3 days, depending on soil type and whether winter or summer etc.
11 Nov 20, Viv McLauchlan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How long could I expect a rosella plant to live in central Qld. Are they annuals or what?
11 Nov 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the article here - it tells you.
25 Mar 20, Lyn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have rosellas growing and all looking lush.. BUT some of the stems are droopy and bent right toward the tip..looks like something may have twisted it.. any idea what is causing this and how to treat it. Thank you.
28 Mar 20, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
Also check for grasshoppers. I had the same broken stems on my rosellas. Noticed a few of green grasshoppers. Sprayed them. Now no grasshoppers and no broken stems. Coincidence????
27 Mar 20, Kathryn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My rosellas are also looking great - flowering and setting fruit but I did notice the same thing this week and upon closer observation there were green caterpillars on the leaves. I gave them to the chooks :)
26 Mar 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
With a lush plant I would say you are over watering and fertilising them. The stems are growing growing and become thinish and weak. Back off the watering and fert and let the plants tuffin up a bit. Otherwise you may have some disease. Last time I saw rosella plants was nearly 60 years ago.
22 Mar 20, Linda Bowden (Australia - temperate climate)
Why is my Rosela bush not flowering. Its huge in size, about 7ft tall. But no blooms.... help
28 Mar 20, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
I was in the same boat. Big plants but no flowers. Now i have fruit everywhere and around 50-60 flowers everyday. Central QLD. Seamed a few weeks ago when the temps dropped a little they started to flower. These are bushes i grew from my own seeds from last season. I have another 4 bushes grown from seeds i bought from Ebay. 2 of these bushes have only just started signs of fruit in the last 2 days. Yours may flower real soon, depends on your climate/temperatures. I made a jar of rosella jam yesterday. Looks like another 100 jars coming up lol
27 Jun 20, Anne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
In rocky When should we plant rosella seeds
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