Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) or Sorrel is also known as Florida cranberry for its edible and flavorful flowers. Growing roselle in Florida is not at all difficult and makes a great tea!
Roselle adds color and beauty to the garden and serves as a great companion plant for other hot weather crops. Equipped with edible leaves and flowers, it is versatile in the kitchen for medicinal and culinary use.
Growing roselle in Florida
Roselle will do best in a sunny location and will not thrive in shade. It grows best in zones 9-10 and is easily damaged by frost/freeze. Roselle plants can reach 7’ tall when given adequate space.
When to plant and harvest Roselle
Roselle is best planted in April and May to give sufficient time for fruiting and flowering before the cold season. It can be planted as late as July. Any later and the cold will kill it off before it blooms.
Roselle will start to bloom as the days shorten, around October. Roselle is an annual, which means it will die after one growing season. Therefore, save the seeds from one harvest to the next.
Getting started: what you’ll need
Start your roselle from seeds or cuttings.
Buy your seeds from local gardeners or farmers, perhaps at your local farmers market. Seeds can be found on Etsy or from these sources.
Seedlings can be obtained from your local farmers market — this is how I acquired my first Roselle plants. If you have friends or neighbors with flourishing plants, ask them for a cutting and remind them that more pruning leads to better growth anyway.
How to plant Roselle
Plant 2-3 seeds 1/2 inch into the soil, spaced 2-3 feet apart if planting several.
Growing in containers
Roselle is great for pots or balconies as long at it gets full sun. Red and showy, it’s a great accent for your container garden. Roselle will grow 3-6 feet tall and should last about 8 months, seed to harvest.
Caring for your Roselle
- Prune early to encourage branching and flowering
- Harvest often to encourage more flower development
- Monitor for pests or disease and remove manually before things get out of hand
- Produces seed pod inside the calyx, in the center of the flower
Suggested recipe for Roselle blooms
Jams, sauces and teas are some easy suggestions to start with.
Sources