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

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • 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 68°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 55 inches apart
  • Harvest in 21-25 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Feverfew, Coriander, Nasturtium and Hyssop

Your comments and tips

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10 Feb 18, Rachael (Australia - tropical climate)
My Rosellas are thick and healthy but still no fruit. They should have fruits by now. Feel like pulling them out as they are wasting so much space with 20 plants. There is nothing on the Internet about this.
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12 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
The info here says plant Oct to Dec and it takes 21-25 weeks - so you have planted out of season maybe. Maybe you used too much fertiliser. Plants will go to seed or fruit when the nutrient has been used up or when the season is right. Most vegies are seasonal to each climate zone.
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21 Jan 18, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
If hey get too wet they can die suddenly. I've just had a couple die off quickly.
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15 Jan 18, kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
My rosella plants don't seem to be fruiting is there something wrong or is it to early for them to fruit
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21 Jan 18, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm having having the same trouble. They would have normally flowered by now. The plants are looking healthy, just no flowers. Have you managed to find anything else out as to why? I'm also in Brisbane.
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17 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do some research on the internet about it.
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16 Dec 17, Bernadette (Australia - temperate climate)
My rosella seems to be dying, do they die off and come back later or just die or is it just asleep. I live at Fitzgibbon Brisbane, thank you
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19 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It's an annual so it may have just died. Google and read about growing it.
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08 Dec 17, Sue (Australia - tropical climate)
My rosella bush leaves are being eaton by something I can't see anything on them but it is leaving small holes in them. What is a safe spray to use on the rosella bushes.
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01 Jan 18, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate)
I use a neem oil spray on my bush. That's non harmful to the beneficial insects and only harms the things which eat the leaves.
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Showing 91 - 100 of 412 comments
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Hi There I moved to Bellingen 3 years ago and have been growing Rosella every year since arriving. I first tried growing them in tyres and they were great. Trying pots this year. I bought 10 seedlings that were about 5inches high from the local market. I got 10 x 42 litre rubber tubs with handles ( those colorful ones ). I drilled 12 holes in the bottom of each and 6 around the lower outside about two inches up from the bottom. Put some broken pots or stones at the bottom for drainage and fill with nice soil, compost, manure, lime and anything else that would give the plants a great start, but i waited about a month before transplanting the rosellas as i wanted to make sure everything blended together nicely. These little trees are now growing nicely and because of the handles I can move them around if I need to. 1) Don't drown them....They don't like wet feet but don't let them dry out either and cover them with mulch. 2) They love sun but will survive in filtered light. 3) The plant will grow about 5/6ft tall and Fruit will start to appear as it's maturing. 4) The best time to pick the fruit is when it's about 5 or 6cm long 5) Use scissors and don't cut too close to the branch.....cut at the bottom of the fruit and leave the little stem on the tree. By doing this you just might get another lot of fruit before the trees dies off. Yes it will die after fruiting and you will have to plant new trees next year. By the way, the flower develops first but will only be in bloom for one day. It resembles the hybiscus flower and the fruit will take about 3 weeks to develop after the flower blooms. When they're ready I pick a few of them every day and I store them in freezer bags until I have enough for Jam. Take the pod from the petals and freeze them in separate bags. Well worth growing and If you need to know more let me know Good luck Wendy

- Wendy McGregor

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