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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06 Sep 15, Paulà (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi - would be very happy to buy some Rosella Seeds(to spare) live in Rockhampton. Thank you Ularen...
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20 Aug 15, JAMES (Australia - tropical climate)
HI -- G'DAY Suggest to keen gardeners and home-cookers that if you do not grow a few Rosella Shrubs you should try. Probably one of the most useful food plants in the garden!? For example the young fresh leaves are great in a mixed salad, as are the chopped fruit (calyx). The older leaves make a superb curry (a common dish in Myanmar and other parts of SE Asia). The calyx has a myriad of uses; sun dried as a tea, made into a magnificent jam that puts strawberry in the shade, stewed and served with the morning muesli or used in tarts and puddings, and prepared as a syrup for flavouring drinks. By the way we are in the tropics, West Bali to be accurate- but this website does not show this zone!!! We reckon that if a veggie can grow in the Darwin area it is probably good for our seaside location with its high humidity and salt laden air. Cheers James
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14 Aug 15, Reg Vaughan (Australia - temperate climate)
Rosellas grow easily in Townsville mine self seeded from last year, which died off after picking and pruning. Just picked a third crop.
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11 Aug 15, Vanessa (Australia - tropical climate)
Here is a few Australian websites that sell Rosella seeds/plants: Daleysfruit; Boondieseeds; rangeviewseeds; thelostseed.
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14 Jul 15, Juanita (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can I grow Rosella plants in a pot? If so, how big of a pot and what type of growing medium? I currently live in the Hervey Bay, Qld region.
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20 Oct 16, Fay (Australia - tropical climate)
Live in Woodgate, Q4660. can I grow Rosellas in a pot? Regards, Fay.
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07 Aug 15, Malcolm (Australia - tropical climate)
Yes. We have two plants growing in black 500mm plastic pots. Already made two lots of jam. Put mulch on top of soil and keep well watered.
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07 Jul 15, BETTY tilker (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where can you buy the seeds
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21 Jun 15, rae (Australia - arid climate)
where can I buy seeds or seedlings, thank you.
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19 Jul 15, Prometheus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Rae, I notice my regular seed supplier sells these. It won't let me paste the link but if you google 'the seed collection australia' you should find them. Best wishes.
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Showing 141 - 150 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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