West African hibiscus relative grown as an annual or short-lived shrub, with pale yellow hibiscus flowers and — the principal feature — fleshy bright red sepals (calyces) that swell and persist after the flowers drop.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9–11 | −6.7 °C to 10 °C | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| RHS hardiness rating | H2 | 1 °C to 5 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 4–7 | 0 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
As a tender annual, Roselle (Jamaica sorrel) doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.
Growing notes
- Plant in warm-climate ornamental beds and kitchen gardens — striking red stems and the swollen red calyces give long late-season display
- Edible calyces — tart cranberry-like flavour, made into the famous hibiscus tea / agua de jamaica / sorrel drink across the tropics, and into jams and sauces
- Distinct from Chinese hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis, also in this batch), kenaf (H. cannabinus, batch 7 fibre entry), and sea hibiscus (H. tiliaceus, batch 7 fibre entry)
- Frost-tender — strictly warm-season annual outside the tropics
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Roselle (Jamaica sorrel) against your zones