🥕 The Gardening Newsletter 🥕

The more you know, the more you grow!

October 28, 2025

Growing Roselle

Hi Reader!

I'm excited to share this edition!

For the first time this past summer I grew ... ROSELLE! Have you ever heard of it. You probably have. It's also known as Hibiscus, Red Sorrel, Florida Cranberry, and a few other names.

Let's find out about it!

In this edition:

• A bit of history and the edible parts of Roselle
• My experience growing Roselle
• What to do with it

I didn't wake up one day and say, "... Hmmm, I think I'll grow Roselle.".

It started about a year ago when I wanted to work on keeping my blood pressure in check because I was under a LOT of stress during that time. I learned that drinking Hibiscus Tea was a natural way to do that so I bought some hibiscus petals.

Y'all, Hibiscus tea is so delicious! Hot or cold.

** DISCLAIMER (again): I am NOT a medical professional and anything I share here is what I did and I am NOT telling you do do this. It's merely information I have researched and discovered and passing it along. So, don't get on your phone and social media and tell your people that I told you to do this and this for that and that; because I didn't.

OK, moving on. 😜

After I went through my first bag, which wasn't cheap, I started to wonder where this plant came from then thus the adventure started. I figured I could grow my own bush each year.

It's popular in the Caribbean Islands, Africa, and the Southern U.S because it's a tropical plant that loves hot, humid weather.

It's related to the Okra plant, which also loves hot, humid weather. My okra does well every year.

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I'm in Zone 8a so hot and humid summers is how we roll in these parts. All parts of the plant are edible, but I don't plan to eat this bush, and I suggest you do your own research first if you plan to serve this for dinner.

The plant is perennial but Zone 8a can also get a few nights of below freezing temperatures during the winter some times so I had low hopes that it would be a perennial in my area.

Anyway, I bought Roselle seeds in May and decided to plant them in a container. I bought a big pot from Aldi and put a bit of wire around the seeds so rabbits, squirrels and birds weren't tempted to munch the newly germinated seed.

It was mid-April by this time, so the weather was warming up nicely. Within a couple of weeks the seeds germinated and the plant started to grow nicely, and fast!

From there, I didn't do much. Just watered and fertilized a little bit. It was in a sunny spot on the side of my house with southern exposure and it seemed happy.

By late August, this plant was a MONSTER! It grew so huge, and actually outgrew the pot. It became top heavy and blew over in a storm we had so my friend Tish helped me to stake it up. It was then that I was the main tap root had grown through the hole in the pot and into the ground.... thus explaining why it got so big. I'm not mad about that though.

The shorter days in the fall is what triggers the red flowers/buds/Calyces to grow. You harvest them by removing the entire calyx, then removing the seed. The Calyces can then be dried for tea or put in the freezer. READ more about it here, and also here.

So, here we are in October, and the other day I notice Calyces starting to grow. I'm so excited!

Finally ....

It's time to harvest my own roselle! These are the Calyces (Calyx as a singular piece). I think they are pretty. There is a seed inside that I will take out and toss, or save for future seed (I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture for you). Then the remaining calyx is dried for tea.

I already know that I will plant this every year ... just because it's pretty!

Gardening Thoughts

If you are reeeealllly interested in growing and using Roselle, here is a 12-minute video showing everything from seed planting to a final recipe.

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More info....

Here is an article that is extremely informative explaining all things about Roselle. I definitely bookmarked this one or future reference.

➡️ What to Know About Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

That's all I have for this edition. Feel free to write me at jangardener@gardenease.org if you have any questions or comments.

Forward this newsletter to anyone you think would be interested in gardening information and to SUBSCRIBE HERE.

I'll see you in the next edition!

Jan🤗

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If you have questions, comments, praises, complaints, or ideas about gardening or about the newsletter, you can reach me at: jangardener@gardenease.org