Tasty hibiscus tea is a popular summertime drink that’s
brewed from the deep red sepals and calyces of Roselle Jamaican
Hibiscus. Full of vitamin C and anthocyanins, the bright red beverage
is a healthy, no sugar alternative to sweet tea or other sugary
drinks. Easy to grow as an annual in northern zones, Roselle Jamaican
Hibiscus can be planted directly in the ground or in a large container.
Plants are 3-4’ tall with a bushy growth habit. Flowers are borne in the
leaf axils and typically last only one day after which a red calyx forms.
The decorative, 1-2” calyx has 5 large, fleshy sepals. These are harvested
to brew hibiscus tea as well as make jelly. If left on the plant,
they become seedpods. Grow your own healthy hibiscus tea in your
summer garden.
