There are several former members that posted in older threads about both of those. Owiebrain had a lot of experience with the elderberries and ileneinneok grew the Roselle's. Maybe search the blog-sphere out on the net and find some tips. Both should grow beautifully in your area. Good luck and report back?!

I've grown Roselle in a 5 gal bucket, in a flower bed and a raised bed. I have a stump to dig out in the raised bed, it grew the biggest there. They are attractive plants with edible leaves (lemony tasting). In the fall they get the purple calyces (I looked that up, plural of calyx) and the leaves turn red. I believe in tropical areas these are perennial, but you get the most flowers the first year. The flowers look like okra flowers, though maybe not as pretty. I got mine for tea. They are also called Florida cranberries and SESE has a recipe for cranberry sauce. Also good for jelly I hear.

I got an elderberry start last year that grew very fast and has leaves already this year. Apparently easy to grow. I have used the Sambucal (brand name) elderberry syrrup and I think it helps.

Thank you for all his information. I am more excited now. The syrup worked very well. I went back and bought 6 more starts. : )

What about recipes. Does anyone have a recipe or link for roselles.

The first year I grew roselle, I just Googled and found tons of recipes, though I did have to wade through a lot of stuff that I wasn't interested in.

The page I linked below not only has a handful of recipes, but at the end it has a few links to other recipes.

Because roselle is used in many cultures, you can find recipes for using it the same way it is used in many different nations, so if you want to make the Mexican drink, Flor de Jamaica, you can find that or if you want to use it in a Burmese soup, you can find that. With roselle being using in so many different ways, the sky is the limit.

Growing & Using Roselle

Thanks for all this great info! I ordered some seeds. I had a really bad kidney stone attack, while new in Mexico, in 1988. They gave me flor de Jamaica tea by the gallon for over a month. After that, I had an aversion to the stuff. But I guess time has solved that. I got into some of my daughter's Red Zinger tea and found it to be fabulous!

George

So Roselle is related to hibiscus? Just seeing this thread. My dad has always liked drinking Jamaica (pronounced huh-MY-kuh), but I had no idea from what sort of plant it came (just imagined a hibiscus-type plant). I'll have to investigate!
Sharon

George, I'm sorry, I pulled out my saved roselle seeds yesterday and was going to send you some. I think you will enjoy these plants.

Florida cranberry sauce from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, scroll down a little

Thank you. I can't wait to put some recipes in my binder to try. I do have a little wait yet don't I. I bought some dried at natural grocers to make tea.

I met two sweet people at the SESE booth and the gentleman said that the lady was responsible for SESE having roselle. I only wish there was more time to talk to the vendors.