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hibiscus? Roselle!

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posted 3 months ago

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another happy surprise in my 'going to seed' flower mix!

Is it hibiscus?
might it make seed this late in the year?
I assume an annual?

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greg mosser

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posted 3 months ago

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looks like maybe roselle? the calyxes around the flowers are used for tea, either dried or fresh.

Anne Miller

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posted 3 months ago

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Hibiscus or maybe a hollyhock.

I believe hibiscus would not be cold hardy though hollyhock would be cold hardy and perennial.

Lucky you, either way.

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Anne Miller

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posted 3 months ago

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Greg knows a lot more about plants than I do though the leaves look wrong for roselle:

Roselle has a 3 to 4 month growing cycle and does well in zones 7 through 10. Those living in zones 6 and lower would have difficulty as it is a plant that requires more tropical environments to survive.

https://growhoss.com/blogs/growing-guides/roselle

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
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Tereza Okava

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posted 3 months ago

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I would agree, roselle (hibiscus sabdariffa), the lobed leaves and calyx. there are a gazillion varieties.
And I also agree, even here in 9b it's hard to make it grow. My uncle in zone 10, his are enormous bushes that can take over an entire lot. some years i have better luck than others!

Judith Browning

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posted 3 months ago

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Roselle it is!
Any advice on harvest?
we'll have a frost in the next two weeks so I doubt I get seed but would like to use the calyx and flowers and leaves if possible.

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M Ljin

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posted 3 months ago

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Hibiscus does grow in cold climates. I have seen both in the wild in Massachusetts, as well as in gardens both there and here: swamp rose mallow.They are a good cordage plant too. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/hibiscus/moscheutos/

And don’t forget Rose of Sharon is a hibiscus and very cold hardy; I have seen them around houses here! https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/hibiscus/syriacus/

There supposedly is an annual sort too, I have not seen. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/hibiscus/trionum/

Then there are probably many that grow in other parts too…

Edit: oh! Roselle is also in the hibiscus genus. Maybe some plants are not so much referred to by that name particularly?

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Nathanael Szobody

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Judith, did you ever get to harvest? I suppose I'm too late. Calix and leaves can be used for tea. Best if dried out first, but a short boil will brew the fresh ones nicely too.

-Nathanael

Judith Browning

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Nathanael Szobody wrote:Judith, did you ever get to harvest? I suppose I'm too late. Calix and leaves can be used for tea. Best if dried out first, but a short boil will brew the fresh ones nicely too.

We did pick a few calix for a very nice tea but I had hopes we might get some seed so left most of the flowers. I even dug one and brought it inside to finish up and there are what might be seed pods but I really don't know what the seeds look like as I didn't know I planted them in the first place😏

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Jill Dyer

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Australia has Hibiscus sabdariffa which looks a lot like the one in your pictures, Judith. Here fruits (?calyses) are picked and used to make jam if there is ever a time when there is enough - I'd mix with apple if only a few fruits available.

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Andy Ze

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posted 3 weeks ago

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I like to snack on the calyxes like popcorn. Nice and tart. From what I've read, the whole plant is edible.

Nathanael Szobody

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Judith Browning wrote:
We did pick a few calix for a very nice tea but I had hopes we might get some seed so left most of the flowers. I even dug one and brought it inside to finish up and there are what might be seed pods but I really don't know what the seeds look like as I didn't know I planted them in the first place😏

Here are seeds and a pod

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-Nathanael

Judith Browning

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Nathanael,
thanks for the photo!
....I opened the three buds from the plant I brought indoors and it looks like I have seed!
The buds are sticky and kind of sparkly as though the sugars? have come to the surface.

The plant has been a back room since before first frost here and really has had no direct sun nor water....I guess I won't know if the seed has matured until planting time.

I think both the buds and seeds look similar to yours but not identical?

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"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
"Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder."-Rumi
"It's all one song!" -Neil Young

Nathanael Szobody

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Very nice! The small brown ones are not fully developed, but the plump gray ones look like they might be viable :-)

-Nathanael

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