Hibiscus sabdariffa - Rosella / Roselle - 30 seeds

Hibiscus sabdariffa, commonly known as Rosella, is endemic to India but has now naturalised widely throughout tropical and subtropical countries throughout the world and in Australia Rosella pre-dated European civilisation and is found from the Kimberleys across northern Australia to the east coast.
 
Rosella is an annual, erect, bushy, herbaceous shrub to some 3m in height, with smooth or nearly smooth, cylindrical, typically red stems.  Flowers are initially in an off-white with a red centre, aging to a dark pink and are up to 12cm in width and appear singly in the leaf axils.  They last a day and when spent the red calyx, consisting of 5 large sepals with a collar of slim, pointed bracts around the base, begins to enlarge, becoming fleshy, crisp and juicy. It is this calyx, or seed capsule that is used extensively for jam. 
 
Plants can also be grown in garden beds or plantations and grow well in pots, where the flowers give an attractive, showy display.
 
Rosella succeeds best in tropical and subtropical regions from sea level up to 1000m with a good rainfall during its growing season, irrigation has been used successfully to supplement natural rainfall where necessary in plantations.  Rosella can be grown in cool and temperate regions if seedlings are grown in a protected position and planted out at about 10cm in height when the danger of frost has passed.  Rosella will grow in most soils, preferably deep, fertile sandy loam and benefit from composting and avoid highly acidic, heavy or waterlogged soils.
 
30 premium quality seeds shipped on receipt of cleared funds.