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 Australia - temperate regions

October: Miust be started under cover- in mini-greenhouse

  • 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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24 Mar 19, Ardelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
One of my rosella is big and tall but no flowers, the others are fruiting well. Does anyone know why? Thanks
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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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Showing 61 - 70 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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