By Maryann Readal

Roselle hibiscus is The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month for July. With its bright red calyces, green leaves, red stems, and cream-colored, okra-like flowers, Hibiscus sabdariffa is also known as red zinger, red sorrel, sour tea, Florida cranberry, and roselle. It makes an unusual and striking accent plant in the garden. We don’t normally think of red zinger hibiscus as a landscape plant, but indeed it can be. 

And of course, an interesting side note to this hibiscus is that the whole plant has many uses. The bright red calyces surrounding the seed can be dried and used to make a refreshing hot or cold tea. In Jamaica and much of Latin America, this red drink is a popular Christmas and celebratory drink. The fresh red calyces can also be chopped and used in fruit salads. They can be cooked into a  sauce similar to cranberry sauce. If making jelly from the calyces, pectin does not need to be added as roselle calyces contain sufficient pectin (Qi, 2005). The leaves and tender shoots of the plant can be added to salads. In some countries the leaves are eaten as a vegetable and as a meat accompaniment. The seeds are high in protein and can be roasted and ground to use as a powder for soups and sauces. They can also be pressed for oil, and the mash left over from processing can be fed to livestock. Chickens enjoy the seeds. The fiber in the stems can be processed into rope or into rough cloth such as burlap (Duke, 1998). It is truly a plant with many uses.

Hibiscus tea has several health benefits including lowering blood pressure, which has been documented in clinical trials (Cattleman, 2020). The tea helps to cool the body, making it a very common beverage in hot, tropical climates (Qi, 2005). In Africa, India, and Mexico, the flowers, leaves, calyces, and stems of the plant are used in native medicines. In some countries, the root is also used for medicine.

This plant is native to West Africa and Southeast Asia. It is thought that the plant reached the New World on slave ships carrying enslaved West Africans. Roselle, along with other African plants, was loaded onto the ships for use as food during the trans-Atlantic journey. The familiar plants were then used as food and medicine by the Africans when they reached the New World (Carney, 2013).

If you plan to grow Hibiscus sabdariffa in your garden, be prepared to give it plenty of sun, water, and room to grow. It can easily reach six to seven feet tall. Pruning it early in the spring will encourage branching. Roselle will not tolerate frost, making it an annual in all but tropical climates. It does not bloom until the days are short, usually in October. Some say that the calyces should not be harvested until several days after the okra-like blossoms drop off. The plant is easily propagated from seed.

Whatever you call it or whatever you use it for, roselle is an interesting herb to know about and grow. I like this plant!

For more information about Hibiscus sabdariffa, please see The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month webpage.

Medicinal Disclaimer: It is the policy of The Herb Society of America, Inc. not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments.

Photo Credits: 1) Roselle tea; 2) Roselle calyces; 3) Hibiscus sabdariffa plant (Jean Marsh); 4) Large white roselle flower; 5) Roselle seed pods with calyces removed. All photos courtesy of the author, unless otherwise credited.

References

Almajid, Ali, et al. 2023. Exploring the health benefits and therapeutic potential of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in human studies: A comprehensive review. Accessed 6/29/24. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10676230/  

Carney, Jean.  2013. Seeds of memory: Botanical legacies of the African diaspora. In: Voeks, R., Rashford, J. (eds) African Ethnobotany in the Americas. Springer, New York, NY.Accessed 7/3/24. Available from https://www.geog.psu.edu/sites/www.geog.psu.edu/files/event/miller-lecture-coffee-hour-out-africa-food-legacies-atlantic-slavery-americas/carneychapter2africanethnobotanyintheamericas.pdf

Cattleman, Michael. 2020. Hibiscus tea for low blood pressure. Accessed 7/3/24. Available from https://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/lower-blood-pressure-naturally-zmgz11zrog/#axzz34ZJXyGr4

Duke, James A. 1998. Handbook of energy crops: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Accessed 6/29/24. Available from  https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Hibiscus_sabdariffa.html

Martinez, Janel. 2023. The history of hibiscus drinks in the African diaspora. Accessed 7/3/24. Available from https://www.seriouseats.com/hibiscus-african-diaspora

Qi, Yadong, et al.  2005. Biological characteristics, nutritional and medicinal value of Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa. Accessed 6/29/24. Available from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270510696_Biological_Characteristics_Nutritional_and_Medicinal_Value_of_Roselle_Hibiscus_Sabdariffa

Maryann is a member of The Herb Society of America’s Texas Thyme Unit in Huntsville, TX. She is a Texas Master Gardener and a certified Native Landscape Specialist with the Texas Native Plant Society and has received The Herb Society’s Nancy Putnam Award for Excellence in Horticulture. She lectures and writes about herbs and plants and does the herb training for several Master Gardener programs. She gardens among the pines in the Piney Woods of East Texas.