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

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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We have 4 healthy looking Rosella bushes in our garden loaded with red calixes. Are these the ones we pick and make jam with? We thought it was the fruit following. Please advise by email as soon as possible. It would really be appreciated. Many thanks, Dieter and Jeannie.

- Dieter and Jeannie Klier

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