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 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
  • Rosellas on plant
  • Rosella bud
  • Rosella plant

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

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19 Mar 08, Bob (Unknown climate)
We have bought Rosella in a jar with liquid/syrup and would like to know if anyone knows how to make this preservative. It takes the place of strawberries in champagne. Yum Yum I have a rosella growing at the moment.
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29 Mar 08, Bruce Hankin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where can I buy Rosella (Queensland jam plant) seed or plant in Western Australia??
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04 Apr 08, Jacky (Unknown climate)
There's a great article about growing and using the rosella fruit in ABC's Organic Gardener Spring 2005.
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26 Apr 08, Anne (Unknown climate)
Pick rosella when as long as your thumbs first digit. Rinse, cut small slice off base, place thumbs between half way section of calyx and peel back separating seed case from fruit. Place in heavy base pot, water to cover (less is more), simmer until fruit breaks down. Add lemon juice, tblspn per cup of jam, add sugar approx 1/4 cup to cup of jam (the sweetness you like) and bring to rolling boil. always stirring, never allow to stick. When syrupy, coating back of spoon thickly, take of heat, cool slightly and jar. Put jars in oven at approx 110 degrees for 5-10 mins prior to jam pour to sterilize.
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14 May 08, Alana (Unknown climate)
I have a Rosella plant that has taken quite a hit from something that has eaten all it's leaves off. I am very new at gardening I'm not sure what I should do - as we eat the fruits I am hesitant to use chemicals and there doesnt seem to be any grubs. Any ideas? Also, we are finding the water excreted from our worm farm is LOVED by our Rosella bush, whenever we put some on it, more flowers are generated. Thanks
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06 Jun 08, Lyn (Unknown climate)
Re Anne's tip - I have always boiled up the seeds and used that liquid to pour over the fruit leaves as the seeds contain the pectin to make the jam set better - is this a myth that I have followed faithfully for decades????
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11 Jun 08, Chris (Unknown climate)
Lyn, if the rosella seeds contain pectin, then it's a useful tip. I've always used lemon and orange pips like this in marmalade.
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11 Jul 08, Noelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My mother's recipe (recipe 80 years old, and now mine) -always boil the seed pods up separately. Strain through fine muslin and add liquid to the red pods and sugar. No lemon is used, as it changes the real rosella flavour.
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18 Jul 08, Renate (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
After a lovely harverst, I cut down the plant and a few of them look like as if they are dying. How do I look after them after flowering and seeding as this is my first year. Comment for jam making, you do not have to boil the seedpods, there is enough pectin in the fleshy part to set and it is a cleaner taste. I have been making jam for years.
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23 Jul 08, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Could anybody advice me where can I buy rosalla leaves in Australia. I live in sydney. Thax
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For a family grow 4 to 6 plants; when making the jam, jelly, chutney, or flowers in syrup for later use in champaigne, save some seed pods. Dry them carefully in the sun avoiding rain and birds. Rosellas may be found in the Brisbane Markets most months except July and August. 2009 prices are $4.00 to $7.00 for the firm clean dry fruit. Retail would be from $5.00 to $10.00 per Kg. Packed in new jars and well labeled the jam sells at $4.50 per 300g. Poorly packed in scruffy second or third hand jars 500g may sell for $4.00 if you are silly enough to make it properly and the pack it poorly; either way its a lot of work...two or three boilings of twenty to 30 minutes and lots of sticky red mess on sauspans, seives, jugs, ladles, benches and floors; sugar, lemons, limes and jam thickener all have a place in the jam making. I first made the jam with my parents in 1955 after growing 12 to 16 bushes successfully for my Gardeners Badge in Cubs. The Secret Jam makers business covers the many ways of removing the calyx from the seed pod. HOWEVER THE FLAVOUR IS NEVER FORGOTTEN UNIQUELY QUEENSLAND AND UNSURPASSED. Over the years I' ve raise hundreds of dollars for the Red Cross and Local Churches and given away dozens of jars of Jam. I am trying a recipe I devised for Rusella Butter which should knock Lemon Butter way off the shelves. Rosella Jam made with enough sugar will keep for 12 months below 25 oC, refrigerate after opening. Rosella Butter and Lemon Butter, Lime Butter, Passionfruit, Orange or Banana Butter must be refrigerated at ALL times and then will probably only last 4 or 5 weeks...even less once you open it! Lick your wooden spoons all you Qld. Jam makers. Plant the seeds (rosellas) after the last frost and plant 1 m apart in a sunny spot in well drained soil, applying fertiliser when the flowers first start. The plants may last two seasons but need to be trimmed in wet weather and after fruiting. Thehy are easier to remover after ONE season.

- Geoff

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