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(Best months for planting Rosella in Australia - temperate regions)

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

• Harvest in 150-180 days
• 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.
• Space plants: 140cm-150cm

This frost tender annual grows to a height of 2 metres. It is grown for its red fruit which make delicious jam or jelly.

Rosella needs a growing season of at least 6 months warm weather so is best suited to tropical or sub-tropical areas. Can be started under glass in cooler areas. Water well and give a dressing of fertiliser when flowering starts.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rosella

The large flowers produce a crimson enlarged calyx.
Use the fleshy red calyx, without the green seed pod to make jam or jelly.

Your comments and tips

27 Dec 09 Alexandra S (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Dorothy, I would love your Rosella cordial recipe. Just made a very succesful batch of orange and lemon cordial for chrissy presents, and am looking forward to experimenting with other recipes. Thanks in advance for your post :)

10 Jan 10 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I got my last years rosella plants at Bunnings and they were very different to usual. They commenced fruiting when only centimetres high and never did have a flower first. They were very poor for months and just as the weather started to get colder they had a lot more fruit. I checked with Bunnings suppliers about the plants and was told they got the seeds from Melbourne. I did not think these plants would ever grow down south so I am wondering if maybe the plants were the result of someone trying to produce rosellas for a cooler climate. Never did find out what the problem was with my plants.

25 Jan 10 rhonda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I live in caboolture and i would love to grow some rosellas could you get me in contact with Sheila to get some plants thanks

25 Jan 10 Addy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I saw some healthy Rosella seedlings at the Caboolture markets yesterday (Sunday), and I have also seen them at the Lawnton Markets (Saturdays) for $1 each.

01 Feb 10 Colleen O'brien (Australia - temperate climate)

I would love the receipe for rosella cordial. Can you also use rosella for making tea if so con you advise me how to use rosella for drinking tea. Thankyou

03 Feb 10 Helen Hoare (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Eric I have two types of Rosella plant. One is a more open bush with three pronged leaves, the other is bushier and the leaves have five prongs. At this stage the three pronged bushes are fruiting, but nothing is happening with the other bushes. Does this sound like the ones you have, and is it normal they take longer to fruit?

08 Feb 10 Terese Longwill, Brisbane (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted my rosella bushes last November (same time as I did the previous year) but todate still no flowers on them. When will they be ready for jam making? I picked last yr crop end of March and made jam. Can you help me with info. on how long after flowers appear from planting in November.

13 Feb 10 june donnelly (Australia - tropical climate)

my rosella bushes have small beetles like weevils on them and these pests are eating tiny holes all over the leaves. I feel that they will eat the tender flower buds when they come out. what can I do about them. I grow rosellas every year for making jam and find that they prefer to be under watered rather than over watered for flowering. r

18 Feb 10 h (Australia - tropical climate)

I grow rosellas every year and frobably get between 100 150 kgs make some for myself and families and just give the rest away dont evin buy plants as they just keep coming up

02 Mar 10 Trev Judd (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi there, I live in Ipswich, Qld and would like to know where I can buy some plants. It's early March. Is the season too late? Regards, Trev