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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01 May 10, liz hird (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I've grown some rosellas & they've flowered but would like to make rosella tea, needing ideas on drying successfully if anyone can help
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15 May 10, Joy G (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Liz, this a link to go to and you will find out how to dry rosella hips www.greenharvest.com.au/seeds/info_sheet/rosella_jam.html i hope this will help good luck joy G
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24 Apr 10, Maiju Ylistalo (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
I don't actually live in United Kingdom, but it was closest to me, I live in Finland, in Northern Europe. Beautiful country with lots of forests and lakes. I googled "Rosella" since that's the name of my dear little sister only 6 years old. I found out it was a bird and was intiqued to see it's some sort of a plant or flower. I'd love to know a little bit more about it, if you can tell me something about the Rosella plant I'd be delighted!!! Have a beautiful autumn all of you, we are now eagerly waiting for the summer to come.. Greetings from the North!!!! <3 Maiju (pronounced My "u") :)
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08 Jun 10, Manuela (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello Maiju, The Rosella plant is a beautiful dark red bush, and lovely dark pink flowers which turn into an edable fruit. The fruit makes beautiful jam and cordial (cordial is syrup like fluid which is mixed with water). You can Google Rosella receipies or Rosella Bush, which should give you fotos of it. This might help you further in fiding out about this plant. The Bush only bears fruit once, and needs to be cut out and a new one re-grown. All the best and greetings to the North, hope your summer arrives soon.
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11 Apr 10, Barbara (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Dorothy, I would love to have your cordial recipe for rosellas. I'm always at a loss as to what to do with all the hips.
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14 May 10, Mary-Ellen (Australia - temperate climate)
The sound of Rosella cardial is more than i can stand. I would love to gain the recipe if its not too much to ask. My dad had only four plants planted and has made up to a hundred or more pots of jam and is wishing to be able to make something else. Your help would be mostly enjoyed.
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04 Apr 10, Eddie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have two bushes this year, bought as about 500mm high bushes from Bunnings. The site is very sandy soil on the east coast of Brisbane so I covered it with shadecloth and planted into that through a hole. I put combo fertilser pellets (chicken, cow etc)in the base of the hole. As soon as the bushes were rooting and growing I took out all the centers of the branches to make them bush, and get more flowers. They flowered in 8-10 weeks and of course the calyx was immediately available. We have picked about 2 kilos from the 2 bushes, washed and frozen them as there's plenty still to come. They need to be treated like any other hibiscus. Hibiscus beetles are a nuisance in the flowers but do not seem to cause any problem with the "fruit" .The flowers only last 4 hours, but can be eaten in salads. This year the flowering stems are way high above the main leaves. Approx double the height. I think the fertiliser is the trick.
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04 Jan 14, Wendy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there i planted 2 rosella pushes (about 6 weeks ago) in raised soil so drainage isn't a problem but today I noticed small holes in the leaves as well as some of the small fruit seem to be dissapearing. The shrubs are about 40cm tall so they're still only babies. Appreciate your imput Wendy
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09 Apr 12, Lesley Sayers (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would like to know how to preserve Rosellas in a syrup for serving with white wine or champagne. If any any one has a recipe that they have tried and tested - I would be most grateful. Many thanks & happy cooking - Lesley.
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02 Apr 10, peter mclachlan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
looking for a receipe for rosella cordial and rosella wine if anyone can help i have 9 plants just starting to flower thanks heaps in advance [email protected]
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Showing 351 - 360 of 472 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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