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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14 Mar 14, Margaret Williams (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What colour should the Rosella Berries be when ready for harvest?
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05 Mar 14, ALEX LOSEW (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
how to grow rosella in a black soil environment and the best position I live in Kingsthorpe qld
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10 Feb 14, John Campbell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
This year our plants are not fruiting very well. We planted in November. Friends are having the same trouble. Also fruit has green stripes on them and quite a few centre seeds have been brown and dried up. Does anyone know the cause? We live near Brisbane QLD
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29 Mar 14, Barbara R (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same problem with later flowering than usual as well as this variegated fruit early on but now my plants are producing really well and more of the calyxes are red, with just the odd striped one. I have been watering them more often and I think that might have helped.
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10 Feb 14, (Australia - arid climate)
We use the handle of an old bicycle pump cut to a length of around 9 inches. Push up from the base of the fruit and the seed will come out.
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01 Feb 14, Jo (Australia - temperate climate)
Has anyone tried growing Rosella plants in Sale, Victoria?
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08 Jan 14, Chris Williams (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What is the best food to feed rosellas with
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01 Jul 13, Pamela Faye (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rosellas love the sandy soil of the Sunshine Coast. Given a drink when it's hot and fed slow release fertilizer the bush will produce an abundance of fruit. After taking the advice of Annette McFarlane on ABC radio, the rosella pods were harvested every few days and froze in packets until enough fruit was collected for Nan to make delicious pots of jam. Sharing the bush with one or two small grasshoppers wasn't a problem as the flowers bloomed in abundance in full sunshine. The jam is a treat!
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05 Jun 13, GRAHAME (Australia - tropical climate)
ROSELLA BUSH HAS GRUB IN STEM AND PLANT FALLS OVER . WHITISH GRUB LIKE SMALL WITCHITE GRUB
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14 May 13, Jessica (Australia - tropical climate)
how do you get the green seed out of the calyx without cutting the calyx? I want to do some in syrup but can't seem to get the "flower" whole
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Showing 181 - 190 of 410 comments
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I have rossella growing and in the past have been successfull however the last two times i have tried to grow these they get to a height of say 400mm and they start a dieback with a white sap like liquid coming out of the bottom of the plant eventually killing it.Any help would be much appreciated we live up in the mountains west of Sarina yes we get frosts however the last rossella plants die back in late summer.

- Helga Martin

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