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 salads and garnishes or just eaten from off the plant. The best time to harvest is around 7 to 10 days after bloom when the seed is fully formed but tender and the fruits are about one inch wide.

Rosella are very attractive plants with stunning red stems, large red/green lobed leaves and beautiful yellow flowers, they create a lovely contrast.

There's a couple of ways you can start growing them, by seed, seedling, and although less frequently seen, by small plant. The best time to sow seeds in a temperature climate is from September to December. More tropical climates can sow almost all year round.

Other than looking nice, Rosella fruits (the calyxes) arw wonderfully rich in vitamin c, minerals and antioxidants.

Rosella plants prefer a well draining, fertile soil, enjoying warmth, sun and humidity.  Generally speaking, they require 5 to 6 frost-free months to produce fruit. If you want to see the flowers open, you will have to keep your eyes peeled as the blooms only last one day!

They are photoperiod sensitive plants, meaning thay they bloom as the days shorten, which for me, is about May.

So there you have it, Rosella's in a brief nutshell.

Happy Gardening.