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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18 Jul 16, Luke (Australia - temperate climate)
Every year I get my Rosella plants online from plantanative.com.au. They have them available around Sept. You can even email them and be on their waiting list too. Great quality plants and price
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28 Jun 16, Emily Chu (Australia - temperate climate)
The Rosella trees grow very well. However the flower buds very tiny and fallen off after a while. Why is it so?
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06 May 16, Peta (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have been growing rosella bushes and harvesting. They are starting to send out new shots down low. Can we cut them back and will they re shoot or do we need to pull out and stay again.
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01 May 16, Marciano galicia (Australia - temperate climate)
My tip is the seeds of rosella is a good coffee. Very aroma
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22 Apr 16, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Would these grow in perth,western australia
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26 Apr 16, Evie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
yes they would grow in WA, we grew them there when living in Bullsbrook
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22 Mar 16, Leigh Baldo (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I am looking to plant Rosella plants later on in the year, and as I have free ranging chickens in the back yard - I am wondering if these plants are safe (non-toxic) if the chickens happen to nibble at them? Can't find anything when doing a web search! Cheers
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04 May 16, Donna T (Australia - tropical climate)
My chookies love them,the leaves are edible for us as well
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09 Mar 16, Paul Noonan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Will rosella trees grow where there is a frost,like at Roma Queensland sandy loam soil, I'm trying to work out what sort of fruit trees are suitable for that area.
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05 Mar 16, Meryl (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds like curl worm had the same problem with the first lot i tried to grow so bought a product from nursery calledSharp Shooter lawn grub and black beetle killer it worked a treat.
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Showing 141 - 150 of 473 comments
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Last year I bought a Rosella plant from Bunnings. It was already quite tall so I dumped it into some gravelly ground, fed it, watered it and away it went Produced enough Rosellas to make some jam. The last few Rosellas on the tree were picked and I waited for them to dry out and drop their very tiny seeds. A couple of months later I decided to try and grow them. I popped them into a large pot and low and behold - lots came up. When they were about an inch or so tall, the bush turkeys got into the pot and dug it all up smothering all my little plants looking for worms. I figured I had lost them all, but smoothed the soil over. About a month later, up came about a dozen plants. They are now about 5 inches tall so I am going to attempt a transplant into a larger pot . I don't have much garden space as it is taken up mostly by palms and golden cane palms which don't allow anything else to grow around them. Can't believe how hardy these little plants are, so keeping my fingers crossed they survive the transplant.

- Kate

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