I'm growing Red sheild for the 1st time this year.Its about 10 ft tall right now.I was told by my trader it would bloom about Nov for me& the picture she included shows pink flowers red centers.I also grow a roselle.same leaves,but are held different and it is setting buds now& will bloom in october.I useually top it at 2 ft and keep topped till july so it grows more like a round shrub.I didn't this year and have plans with bread ties on my belt loop to secure to fence.its starting to grow "wavey".when topping it it does seem to have alot more branches and a fuller plant. I grow castor beans.My reds i traded for didn't sprout,but was told they are the only short ones.I grew my greens this year,but have some pink veined& some carmine that have purpleish leaves and the stalk is deep purple.I'm in zone 8b TX and mine actually return& so do the seeds that fall off that I miss.I had a 21 ft plant last yr. grew in old compost pile that I moved and the bed was actually raised.The trunk was 9 in diameter& when I chopped it down.....it grew back to about 4 ft before frost got it.I couldn't even reach the seeds,but the seed was big like a red runner bean.

Hi Debbie, I would love to try some of your okra. I'd also be interested in the orange noah MG, pink rain lily, and yellow hibiscus. Do I have anything on my list you would like? Thanks! Gina Here is a link that might be useful: my trade list

Thanks kayrn I thought if anyone would know you would know. LOL I really want it for the foilage. I am not that interested in flowers for my patio pots. I do not know why I have never had any bug problems ever. (knock on wood) hope I have not jinx myself. I keep over 200 plants in the basement, sunroom and every room of the house except the dining room. I have steam heat which might be why I do not have problems. This year I have coleus and the red acetosella in my girl pot. This is my girl pot and boy pot. LOL

I have one growing in front of my shed it is about 7 feet tall! I had hedged it a bit a few months ago and it kind of bushy. They normally bloom for the fall the flowers are not so striking because it is the same color as the foligage. I love the deep rich burgundy leaves it gives the garden a good contrast. I had purchase seeds online from P Seeds this is how I aquired the plant. I have lots of small plants that I am potting up for friends as this plant reseeds in abundance. I have my red sheild planted in the ground for over 18 months Rochelle