Roselle

aka Hibiscus sabdariffa is a very pretty & multi-use plant. The red stems, and glossy deep red fruits
are striking. Makes a very nice jam, too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...)

Great banner Cal! Looked it up and its a very cool plant.

Thanks, Cal, for introducing me to a new plant. Your link didn't lead directly to the Wiki page for it, but clicking on the top link got me there. All the uses for the plant are very interesting.

I have grown it and love it. It makes a tasty and healthy tea as well as a beautiful hibiscus. Makes for a great banner too!

Interesting to see this banner as I had recently ordered seed for three different types of Roselle from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Two are H. sabdariffa and one H. acetosella. https://www.southernexposure.c... I didn't know there were different ones so wanted to try them all.

By any chance do you still have the full photo?

Excellent banner Cal!

Cal, Interesting plant. I'd like to see a full image, too.

Hello everybody!
Thank you for all the thumbs, acorns, and comments.
This is the first time I've grown roselle....not sure how I found out about it,
but probably through someone here earlier this year.

It IS a very cool plant, Frenchy.

And thanks, Elizabeth for the heads up on the faulty link...no matter how many times I try to copy/paste the link,
it still says the article doesn't exist. Something's going on at Wiki.
I can get to it if I do a search, "roselle plant wiki", then use that link.
Whatever works.

Kristi, would like to know how those other roselles work out.
Have you made jam with it? I'll try making tea next time.

The seed is hard, but most germinated even without scarifying.
It's a strong plant, and grew to 6 ft out of a 5 gal pot.

I will definitely grow several each year for the blooms & fruit.

It has such a sturdy stalk, I thought I could get it to grow again, but
it's really an annual.

The blooms are pretty, but not large, and last only a day or so.
The fruits are very glossy deep red. The stems, and stalk are darker
red, and the leaves are pretty as well.

I grew most of them in pots, but will put most in the ground for a better crop.

The jam was super easy to make....just removed the seed pod (saved the seeds ;)
and put all the fruit in a large pod with sugar & water, and boiled down.
I just "winged it", and didn't measure, but it came out great.
Didn't need any pectin, as it has enough as is.

How to process roselle fruit....
https://www.youtube.com/result...

BTW, I used Pillsbury Grands for the biscuits, but will try this 2 ingredient recipe from
Hillbilly Kitchen.

Wow, Cal, you're a man of many talents. The fruit looks so strange to my eyes. I'm really glad you included a photo of it.

This was the bloom on mine. It resembles the okra bloom which is in the Hibiscus family also.

And the fruit that I dried for tea.


I shall have to try jelly, thanks for that suggestion. I only used mine for tea. I did eat some of the calyxes fresh. They have an interesting citrus zing to them. Looking forward to growing a selection this year. Thanks again for the cool banner.

I nibbled on the fruit expecting it to be juicy, but it wasn't.
It had a mild slightly fruity taste...nice, but not memorable
like strawberry or apricot.

I just peeled the red meat off the seed pod, and cooked
them down without removing the pulp. It thickened perfectly.

It was a bit too sweet, so next time I'll use less sugar,
and try it on vanilla ice cream.

The backside of the leaf is pure detail definition, beautifully cropped. Love it!

Thanks, Fleur, and everyone.

re: backlit leaves.....besides the roselle,
cannas, bauhinias, caladiums, taros, & lotus
also show very pretty details.

Cal, Thanks for the pictures and all of the extra information about rosellas! The jam sounds delicious--hope I'll be able to try it some day. So interesting that it is made from the calyxes rather than the fruit.