It is time to harvest roselle hibiscus here in North Texas!

Botanically known as Hibiscus sabdariffa, roselle is a member of the hibiscus family, Malvaceae.  It originated in West Africa but made its way worldwide via various trade routes.

Roselle, also known in the United States as Florida cranberry or Jamaica sorrel, is a shrub that produces numerous attractive, pink hibiscus-like flowers, with a distinctive eye in the center. You can find several examples of roselle growing at some of our Dallas County Master Gardener projects, including Urban County Farm in Garland, Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills in north Dallas, and Lakewood Elementary School in east Dallas.

Roselle calyces (the outer red covering you see after the flowers fade away) are the most consumed portion of the plant and bear a tender, plump, and

crisp texture with a sweet-tart, subtly acidic, and fruity flavor reminiscent of cranberries, rhubarb, and red currants.  The Master Gardeners are currently using the small new leaves in salads and the calyces for making jams and jellies, vinegar, and, of course, hibiscus tea.

Roselle is considered an annual plant here in north Texas, so it must be planted each year.  It needs lots of sun and very warm soil. I usually transplant it to the garden in early May.  It grows to about 4.5 feet in height; and while the plant is very pretty on its own, it starts blooming in August when many flowering plants in Texas are going by the wayside. The best part about growing roselle is that they thrive with existing rainfall and NO fertilizer!

Need a tough, drought-tolerant, full sun plant that is pretty and provides food?         Give roselle a try!