10 Seeds Hibiscus sabdariffa Red Roselle Hibiscus

Hibiscus sabdariffa, commonly known as Red Roselle, is a warm-season annual hibiscus grown for its striking crimson stems, lobed foliage, and fleshy red calyces. It brings a bold tropical look to beds, borders, and large containers, and it is easy to grow from seed in a single season. Gardeners value it for its vigorous, upright habit and its vivid late-season color, along with the ornamental and culinary potential of its harvested calyces.

Red Roselle calyces are traditionally used to make tangy teas, jams, syrups, and sauces, while the young leaves can be used in salads. Plants grow quickly in warm weather and may reach 4 to 7 feet tall in a long season, developing pale yellow flowers with dark centers that mature into the showy red calyces. Space plants so air moves freely around them, and harvest calyces when they are plump and bright for the freshest flavor.
Species: Hibiscus sabdariffa
Variety: Red Roselle
Type: Annual (perennial in frost-free zones)
Plant_Habit: Upright, bushy, 4-7 feet tall
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
Days_to_Harvest: 90-120 days for calyces
Zones: 8-11 as a perennial; grown as an annual elsewhere
Germination: 10-21 days at 70-85F
Sowing: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow after soil has warmed
Spacing: 18-24 inches apart
Notes: Warm-season grower; calyces are ready when plump and deep red