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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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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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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