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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We are actually on the south coast of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. This is a similar latitude to the Whitsundays say half way between Townsville and Cairns but a little less humid as we are on the coast. we grew H.Sabdariffa this year from local seedlings. The flower was yellow and the calyxes only 1.5- 2.5cm and not very fleshy. I believe this version has traditionally been cultivated in Fiji by the Fijian Indians for its young leaf which is a sour spinach used to make chutney. The variety you mention, H.Subdantta looks as though the calyxes is much more fleshy which would suit our end game of producing it as a food source for herbal teas and jams. What color flower does it have? Can you tell me where I can buy seeds from?

- Llew Boddam-Whetham

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