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 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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24 Mar 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You may have over fertilised it or grown it out of season. Plants will grow and grow until nutrient starts to run out and then they will go to seed to reproduce themselves.
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07 Mar 20, Bongani (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can one grow rosella aquaponically and how large do the plants get?
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24 Feb 20, Susan Chisholm (Australia - temperate climate)
We live in Bundaberg Qld. Should I be planting my seeds now?
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25 Feb 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Bundaberg is sub tropical climate zone, read up about climate zones in the blue tab at the top of the page. At the top of the page for Rosella you will see the months to plant, the big capital P. Just be careful with the current wet weather (14 inches for Feb so far) we are having. Maybe start them in some potting mix or a good draining soil combo. I live Coral Cove.
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02 Feb 20, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
I have 11 big healthy rosella plants. No fruit or flowers are showing. Bit worried. Grown from seeds from last years plant as well as some seeds i bought off Ebay. Planted in trays Sept and transplanted into garden Oct 2019. Plants have grown quite big but are not flowering. Is it the extra heat this year? Will they still flower?
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18 Feb 20, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
Things are looking up. 19/02/2020. Buds are appearing on the bushes. First flower out this morning. Awesome
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14 Feb 20, Linda (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Clive, my Rossellas are pretty much at the same stage and I'm not expecting any flowering until the early early dry season perhaps late April.
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03 Feb 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
It does say 21-25 weeks from sowing. Middle of this month would be about 21 weeks. Hope they flower soon.
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03 Feb 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You may have over fertilised them. Usually when plants are really big and strong and not flowering etc they have had too much fertiliser especially N.
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02 Nov 19, Jack Naidu (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you have Rosella seeds or plants
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Showing 41 - 50 of 409 comments
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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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