Common Name: Native Rosella

General Information

Hibiscus heterophyllus is an evergreen shrub or a small tree with an open habit; it can grow from 1.5 - 6 metres tall[, ].
The edible leaves, flowers and roots are gathered from the wild for local use. The plant is grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its flowers[].

Known Hazards

The plant is often used as a food in Australia, and is a main species in the Australian Bush Food Industry, but there is also a report of kidney damage after drinking tea made from the leaves[].
The hairs on the seed capsules can cause severe skin irritation to sensitive people, and need to be handled with care[].

Botanical References

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Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland

Habitat

Moist eucalyptus forests, jungle gullies and rainforest edges[, ]. Dry rainforests, rainforest margins and areas of secondary forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.80 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Hibiscus heterophyllus is native to eastern Australia, where it can be found from the tropics of northern Queensland to the warm temperate climate of southeastern New South Wales. It can tolerate short periods of frost with temperatures falling to around -5°c, but succumbs to longer periods of cold. In cooler temperate regions it might be possible to grow it as a half-hardy annual, to flower in its first year from seed.
Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun[]. Suitable for waterside plantings[].
Plants propagated from clones native to the southern part of the range of the species may prove to be more frost tolerant[].
Frost-affected plants will often reshoot from the lower branches[].
Plants can become sparsely foliaged with age but can be pruned back by about one-third if needed to maintain a bushy shape[].
A fast-growing plant[].
In common with most Hibiscus species, the individual flowers last for only 1 - 2 days, but new flowers continue to open over a long period, generally from spring through to summer[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked. Pleasantly acid[, , , , ]. An excellent spinach substitute, the boiled leaves losing their acidity[].

Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked[]. A very mild flavour[]. The large, decorative flowers make an attractive garnish on salads[].
The flower buds can be used to make a jam[]. This refers to the fresh calyx, the outer whorl of the flower, which is eaten both raw and cooked in several Hibiscus species. It is rich in pectin and citric acid, has a pleasant acid flavour, and is an excellent ingredient for adding flavour and also for thickening the jam[, ].

The fruit can be used to make rosella jam[].

Root - it is edible but very fibrous[, ]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[]. The roots of young plants are used[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A tough fibre obtained from the stems is used for making nets etc[, , ]. A strong, white fibre of fine texture, it is prepared by maceration[]. This is one of the fibres of which the Aborigines commonly make their dilly-bags. It is difficult to clean, owing to the great amount of mucilage in the bark[].

The wood is a pale yellow colour, smooth texture, with an open grain. A tough wood and a good conductor of sound, it is probably suitable for making musical instruments[].
It is a most inferior wood. It blackens with age, warps and splits greatly, is very porous, and has no figure[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly rapid and no special pretreatment is needed, although germination will be faster if the seed is abraded or soaked prior to sowing[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If growing them as annuals, plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and protect them with a frame or cloche until they are growing away well. If hoping to grow them as perennials, then it is better to grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year and to plant them out in early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. They generally strike readily, particularly if cuttings are taken on an angle through a node and rooting hormone is applied to their ends[].Overwinter them in a warm greenhouse and plant out after the last expected frosts.