Rosella - Hibiscus sabdariffa
A little while ago I found a heaps of seeds from a swap cart we have around here, that I'd completely forgotten to plant. Thinking they probably weren't going to do much, I just tossed them in a pot and let them be. To my surprise though, about eight Rosella seeds germinated! A good while later and here we are, they are starting to flower and I'm excited to try our surprise fruits! Let's take a bit of a look at these edible little hibiscus. Rosella, not the bird but Hibiscus sabdariffa, is a tropical shrub likely originating from West Africa. Usually grown as an annual, this small to average shrub ( up to 2m, although mine are about 2ft) produces famously vibrant red edible calyxes. Note: A calyx is, simply put, the outer piece surrounding a flower in bud, or after it has bloomed, which can even continue as the fruit matures. These bright red fruits have a tart flavour, reminiscent of a cranberry, and can be made into teas and preserves, used in ...
