Description
Description
A frost tender perennial to 2 meters with green to reddish leaves, prominent red buds and large, pale yellow flowers, often tinged with pink. Roselle is well known for it’s edible calyxes, the fleshy, red coating covering the seed pods, which have a pleasant, tart, floral flavour and are often used to make jams and sauces. Less well known are the edible leaves, which have an acidic taste similar to sorrel.
Care
Plant in full sun, in well draining soil. Roselle is not a heavy feeder and tolerates short periods of drought but will need regular watering through Summer. If growing as a perennial, prune back hard before the cold weather hits and mulch well around the base of the plant. My own experience with growing roselle as a perennial has been hit and miss; I recommend saving seed, which is relatively easy to germinate, in case plants do not make it through the winter.
