Hibiscus Species, Red Sorrel, Roselle, Florida Cranberry, Indian Sorrel, Jamaican Sorrel

the whole plants color is more impressive (and reminiscent of lorepetelum = big +) than the smaller and more subtlely colored (more pale ...Read Morebut not in a wow way) flowers. it grows tall, not very wide, and fast. so far the seeds seem to hold for a long time on the plant, and virtually every flower is well polinated and goes to seed. i twisted (well attached) some off when hard and dry from shortening the bush at least 6' tall back towards half that, and tossed seeds on ground. around the base of a pot later set on top that is regularly watered (so moisture higher in my sandy soil than exposed to the heat), a bunch of seedlings have cropped up in the circular form.

i think it possibly will be on the extremely self sowing side. part of me wants to use for its color and part of me is wary it will be something i later pull out. (like the native scorpion tail flower... very cool yet i tried to remove at least 2 or 3 years ago and regularly i find more babies.

i stuck sticks of trimmings in a self watering planter and all rooted, outside, i believe in winter.

the slimy sticky looking when broken open cranberry fruit doesnt scream 'try me'. maybe if i see the face of someone eating them in front of me i could be encouraged.

Horribly invasive in South Florida (zone 9b). Do not plant, do not give away. Pretty flower and you can eat the leaves (so what?) but u...Read Morender no circumstances will you be glad you unleashed this monster in your yard. Worse than brazilian pepper worse than any weed

This grows well a bit south of my area in northern Florida but since it blooms late in the year (November) the frosts usually get it befo...Read Morere I get any ripe calyxes. There is a variety named "Temprano" which blooms 20 days earlier than the species but I can't find it (anyone know where you can get it?). When I've gotten harvests before the first frost it is great for making a nice tea.

Another popular leafy green vegetable from Andhra Pradesh popularly known there as gongoora or gongura. Also known as Indian sorrel, Jama...Read Moreican sorrel, red sorrel, Florida cranberry, rosella, and Ambada (Ambad bhaji) in Hindi.
This tangy vegetable grows upto 8" tall and has edible lobed leaves. The stems can be reddish. Another important edible part is the fleshy sepal (calyx), which is intense red and tastes acidic. Sometimes used as a cranberry substitute it is used to make jelly and juice. The leaves and young stems are eaten raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable. It is also known to be a mild laxative and mild diuretic.