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 New Zealand - cool/mountain 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
14 Aug 08, Addy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is now the right time to germinate rosella seeds? I thought to start some seeds in punnets and to plant the seedlings into a sunny spot later. I grew 3 from bought seedlings early this year and havested enough to make 1 bottle of jam. They were skinny little bushes, not like the pictures of bushes I've seen on the internet! How do you get them to have heaps of branches? Tip off the main stem? Any advice wouldbe much appreciated!
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Aug 08, Zenon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grow a large plantation of approx 900 plants. If you are organic - Utilise pyrithrum for mites that may attack the stems. If you have drainage issues the root rot is cause by Needmatodes in the soil. It is very important not to re-plant a rosella straight away in the same location. Make sure your beds are well rested to rebuild core nutrients and particularly nitrogen for a good return harvest. While bed resting make sure you toss the soil for subsoil airation as well. @ 2 months they do appreciate a slight scatter of dynamic lifter and if you can source it prior to flowering worm castings - an incredibly rich furtiliser that makes up 1litre per 1 gram. I have been supplying the flower in syrup for years which is most commonly used in either drinks or served over ice cream and have recently made Rosella vinegar. Another hint is to make it into a sauce for pork - Devine taste!!! For any enquiries please email myself: zenon.kowalczyk (at) gmail.com
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Jul 08, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Could anybody advice me where can I buy rosalla leaves in Australia. I live in sydney. Thax
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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????
Reply or Post a new comment
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
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 461 - 470 of 472 comments
See comments for all plants

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 GardenGrow 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 GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | 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. GardenGrow 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.