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

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14 Aug 18, ron (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When and where to buy Rosella Plants
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16 Aug 18, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Internet - The Seed Collection Company.
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30 Jul 18, Graham Donnelly (Australia - tropical climate)
Could you please tell me why my rosellas are wilting and dying One seems to get the wilts and then all the others seem to follow I have a patch of about 20 trees ,they get to approx 3to 4 foot high and just seem to wilt and die The same area last year all the trees were fine I need help Please
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25 Mar 19, Tessa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I just read a story about a farmer who said you should never plant Roselles in the same place as last season, they dont do well for some reason
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02 Aug 18, mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Google about wilting in rosella.
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31 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - tropical climate)
I have no idea - try putting wilting of rosella into google. I would imagine they need a lot of water in the tropics. I had Chinese cabbage like that a month or so ago. A couple of days of warm weather and little water and they just wilted.
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24 Jul 18, Marlene (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Can I grow rosella plants in Albion Park which is south of Wollongong in NSW
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28 Jul 18, Neal (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes I grew one last year in Gosford. Had enough fruit for say a few pots of jam so grow 2
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23 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
To all the questions about rosella planting - if you used this guide to look when to plant and harvest etc you wouldn't ask these questions. This website is a means for you to look up a plant (rosella) set what climate you live in and then read ALL the details about the plant. Plant time, time to harvest, if it is frost tolerant etc. Like if you are cool/mountain it says plant Nov /Dec -- so you don't plant until then.
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25 Jul 18, Llew Boddam-Whetham (Australia - tropical climate)
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?
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After a lovely harverst, I cut down the plant and a few of them look like as if they are dying. How do I look after them after flowering and seeding as this is my first year. Comment for jam making, you do not have to boil the seedpods, there is enough pectin in the fleshy part to set and it is a cleaner taste. I have been making jam for years.

- Renate

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