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 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

07 Nov 08, alister (senior gardener) (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rosella. 1st Bunnings are stocking small plants in the Brisbane region .Elsewhere?? (Nov 08) Plant in a free draining bed, enriched with organic matter. If in a warmer climate mulch with sugar cane straw. NOT bark,or wood chip as they cause the soil to go hydrophobic. (water repellent).Use plenty of a nitrogen based fertiliser and get good leaf growth. Plants about 1.2 metres apart. Consider sulphate of potash to get vigorous qualtiy plants.Light side dressings at the roots drip zones..Plants that are well fed and growing strongly are particular able to resist insect and disease attack. If you use seed expect to see it through in 10-14 days.Put slug bait on the covering soil and cover all with 3-4 pages of newspaper or 50mm of cane mulch.Be careful to watch as the seedlings come through so they do not become leggy.Keep damp. We have 7 plants underway on Macleay Island Brisbane.Best wishes and good luck.
23 Feb 21, Cas (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted my rosellas in August '20 then potted up into half wicking pots and half hugelkultur pots, some in small plastic garbage bins. I have 10 plants. Of these, 4 started as seedlings from Bunnings, the rest were seeds I'd saved from previous years. Only 1 of these plants is flowering and fruiting. All look very healthy. I thought to give the non flowering ones some potash to help them flower. Will this encourage them?
27 Feb 21, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
A bit of potash shouldn't hurt, but I've found that mine don't start flowering until the days start getting shorter, no matter what I do! It should just be a matter of time for the rest of yours to start. Your precocious plant might be getting just a tiny bit less sun than the others due to placement in the garden. The end of my row that's closest to the house always starts flowering first, because it gets an hour less sun than the other end of the row.
12 Dec 19, Rhonda AFFOO (Australia - temperate climate)
I live at Kilcoy QLD (Somerset Council area) & I always plant my Rosella seeds in seed trays 2nd week in August & raise under black plastic.. They germinate pretty quickly this way which allows me to have them high enough to transplant into raised beds before end of September. This way I can usually start harvesting the rosella pods by end of Dec. They keep bearing until the first hint of winter (temperature drop or cool winds) they then turn up their toes & I pull them out..I rest my beds & grow a green manure using cheap canary seed which I trim back with whipper snipper to break down in to the soil.
17 Jul 20, Jeff Bell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are you saying that after a harvest you pull the plant out? Does the turning up of the toes always happen in Winter? This is exactly what happened to my plant. I thought I killed it in someway!
22 Oct 08, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where can i get seeds for Hibiscus Subdantta (Rosella)
06 Oct 08, terry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How long do Rosella seeds take to germinate in the Brisbane area
05 Oct 08, Leo Hallahan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
could you let me know what type of fertiliser is used on rosella plants.
15 Sep 08, Tripperx (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I plant my rosella in September on the first full moon. I did this last year and end up with 5 plants. I noticed the two that i planted in full sun and watered more often, grew lager and had more fruit. Also very popular with jam makers so always grow an extra bush for friends.
01 Sep 08, Bevin (Australia - temperate climate)
I require more information about growing rosellas west of Toowoomba. Do they require fertilizer? what type and how much per sq metre? What pest control is needed?
Showing 451 - 460 of 472 comments

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Rosella

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.