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

24 Sep 16, dave adams (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
could you send me a copy of your rosella wine please, I would love to try it , thanks
03 May 12, sue ware (Australia - tropical climate)
Would love your recipe for Rhubarb and rosella wine have tree out back!
18 Sep 16, Greg Wheeldon (Australia - temperate climate)
I would like a recipe for Rosella Wine. Can anyone assist please.
18 Apr 11, Joan (Australia - temperate climate)
I would like your recipe for Rosella wine. I have made quite a few fruit wines. My rosellas are ready to be picked.
04 Nov 10, Karen Mehonoshen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would like to try the rosella wine recipe or any other of the rosella recipes you have. You can email me. Thanks so much.
25 Jun 09, mavis (Australia - tropical climate)
My rossella plants have chewed stems on the end of some branches. I can not see any insect infestation but would like some advise please. I do not spray with chemicals.
05 Jun 09, karen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
anyone out there with a rosella wine recipe??? thanks
30 May 09, shirley richards (Australia - tropical climate)
i would like to know when to harvest fruit and how is the best way to remove the fruit from the bush as they are sharp and strongly attached.
26 May 09, Kath Ingham (Australia - tropical climate)
This year I have two different types of rosella plants I have always grown the large bush with pointed fruit but this year I have a plant that has round fruit on a smaller bush and it had fruit about about two months before the other plants,I wonder if anyone knows if this is just a throwback or if it is a different ,bush, the leaves on this bush are much larger than the leaves on the other bushes
24 May 09, Aaron (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I now started to havest my rosella fruits. anyone knows good fomular for making jam, wine by using rosella ? please send me through my email because l will start making reserch very soon. [email protected]
Showing 351 - 360 of 412 comments

Hi There I moved to Bellingen 3 years ago and have been growing Rosella every year since arriving. I first tried growing them in tyres and they were great. Trying pots this year. I bought 10 seedlings that were about 5inches high from the local market. I got 10 x 42 litre rubber tubs with handles ( those colorful ones ). I drilled 12 holes in the bottom of each and 6 around the lower outside about two inches up from the bottom. Put some broken pots or stones at the bottom for drainage and fill with nice soil, compost, manure, lime and anything else that would give the plants a great start, but i waited about a month before transplanting the rosellas as i wanted to make sure everything blended together nicely. These little trees are now growing nicely and because of the handles I can move them around if I need to. 1) Don't drown them....They don't like wet feet but don't let them dry out either and cover them with mulch. 2) They love sun but will survive in filtered light. 3) The plant will grow about 5/6ft tall and Fruit will start to appear as it's maturing. 4) The best time to pick the fruit is when it's about 5 or 6cm long 5) Use scissors and don't cut too close to the branch.....cut at the bottom of the fruit and leave the little stem on the tree. By doing this you just might get another lot of fruit before the trees dies off. Yes it will die after fruiting and you will have to plant new trees next year. By the way, the flower develops first but will only be in bloom for one day. It resembles the hybiscus flower and the fruit will take about 3 weeks to develop after the flower blooms. When they're ready I pick a few of them every day and I store them in freezer bags until I have enough for Jam. Take the pod from the petals and freeze them in separate bags. Well worth growing and If you need to know more let me know Good luck Wendy

- Wendy McGregor

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.