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

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26 Jun 10, Anne meguyer (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in a coastal belt at Port Stephens. Where can I obtain plants to grow same? I grew up in Qld so recall them being grown there. No one round here seems to know of them. Thank You. Anne
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12 Jun 10, philomene bell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
planted 3 rosella bushes about 4 weeks ago and the y are starting bare fruit how do i know when they are ready to pick
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18 Jun 10, Jean (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi, you can pick them once the calyx has firmed up.
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13 May 10, Lisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would like to preserve the rosella flowers for a friend, like they do commercially for the bottom of your champagne glass. Can anyone help?
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23 May 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Lisa, I've never seen the flowers like this - are they dried out or soft enough to eat when you've finished your champagne?
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24 May 10, Meredith (Australia - temperate climate)
They're usually preserved in syrup, so they're a bit chewy at the end of the champagne but quite edible.
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10 May 10, carol (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
To dry the rosellas, separate the seed and dry the red calyx in an electric dehydrator. Use the dried flesh for a lovely cup of tea, adding sugar if desired. I made some teabags from dressmakers light interfacing, from the drapers, adding a cotton thread tag.
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09 May 10, Desley Corbet (Australia - tropical climate)
I usually plant seedlings in Sept/Oct. This year we had several weeks of continuous rain and although the plants grew I have not got much fruit from them to date. Now they are flowering but tend to be wilting from the top and will probably die. Can anyone give me a tip to correct the problem
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07 May 10, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
how do you get the seed out of the rosella fruit. When can you purchase a seed podder for them.
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08 Jun 10, Manuela (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Sue, Use an apple corer, it works really well. Push it through from the bottom up. Good luck, it makes beautiful jam and cordial.
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Showing 291 - 300 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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