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 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

28 Dec 11, Chez (Australia - arid climate)
Eden Seeds have Rosella seeds available at present and you can order online. I grew them in my hydroponics last year and made my first rosella jam since I left the tropics. You need to get them started as soon as possible to allow enough time to fruit before it gets cool.
13 Aug 21, Carmen (Australia - tropical climate)
hello i would like to hear about your hydrponics set-up. we are hoping to get students growing rosellas in individual hydrponic pots made from recycled plastic bottles, but not sure how to start. did you raise your seeds in soil first, then transplant into the hydroponics? thanks
12 Feb 12, James (Australia - temperate climate)
In temperate climates I'd say don't bother, I live in Melbourne and my plant only got to about 15cm tall and the leaves were too sour to eat, no fruit on plant. They need a long hot growing season.
19 Dec 11, Valerie Hutton (Australia - tropical climate)
My rosella plants are taking their time growing (slowly), and something is eating small round holes in the leaves, also they get a white aphid like funges on the stems. Can you advise what is the best repellant to use in these cases. I have noticed a lot of orange ladybird beetles on the zucchini also, will the same repellant be ok for them?
14 Dec 11, Dorothy Stephens (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted some Rosellas in small pots a few weeks ago,(placed in a shallow trough so the roots could get to the water below). They were for a friend of mine down south. I have been feeding them with Fish emulsion and they have all started to bloom! Unfortunately my friend cannot come up to collect them! Question is, is it now possible for me to transplant them into large pots so I can pick the fruit for her later on? (I do not have room to plant them in my little garden! I live in Kingscliff,NSWs. so if anyone living locally would like a couple of these plants, please e-mail me.
18 Dec 11, Mary Petersen (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Dorothy, I have been looking for Rosellas for our new edible gardening and if still available I would love a couple of your plants (they sound beautiful and healthy). We are at Cobaki, Tweed Heads and could pick up before or after Chrissy, whichever may suit you. Kind regards & Merry Christmas Mary
20 Nov 11, (Australia - tropical climate)
Have bought rosella seedlings from mitre 10
01 Nov 11, judy (Australia - temperate climate)
are Rosella plants annuals....do they just die off at the end on the season...will they produce more seeds to plant...or are they perrenial...if they are do they get pruned at all or just left alone
29 Oct 11, Merryl Chantrell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Simone my email address is [email protected]. I bought some Rosella seeds and tried them but I don't think they were viable. I would dearly like some more please. Kind regards Merryl
14 Oct 11, John Edgerton (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Simone, i read your posts that you have Rosella seeds. I would appreciate it if you could post me some please. If you could kindly email me once you have read this so i can give you my postal address. [email protected] Yours kindly, John Edgerton
Showing 231 - 240 of 412 comments

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