Hibiscus heterophyllus
Vent.
Native rosella, Australian native Sorrel
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(c) Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Flowers, Roots
Leaves and young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a pleasantly acidic flavour that mellows when boiled, making them an excellent spinach substitute. Flowers and flower buds are also edible raw or cooked, with a very mild flavour. The roots of young plants are edible but highly fibrous, with a mucilaginous texture and little flavour.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It grows in warm temperate places. It can grow in the subtropics. It needs well drained soil. It occurs in moist places in tall open forest. It can stand light frost. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Asia, Australia*, Britain, Europe, Myanmar, SE Asia,
How to Identify
A tall shrub or small tree. It grows 3-6 m tall. It can spread to 2-5 m wide. The stems are prickly. The leaves are dark green and narrow. They can be undivided or have 3 deeply divided lobes. Leaves are 5-20 cm long by 10 cm wide. The flowers are large. They occur singly. They are 15 cm across and mostly white. The fruit is a densely hairy oval capsule. It is 2 cm long.
Nutrition Score: 25/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flower | 85.7 | 204 | 49 | 1.4 | — | 1 | — | — |
| Carpels | 86.7 | — | — | 1.4 | — | — | 1.8 | — |
How to Grow
Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun. Suitable for waterside plantings. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it is unlikely to succeed outdoors even in the mildest areas of the country. However, it might be possible to grow it as a half-hardy annual, to flower in its first year from seed.
Propagation: Sow seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse; germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle. For annual cultivation, plant out into permanent positions in early summer, protecting with a frame or cloche until established. For perennial cultivation, grow on in the greenhouse through the first year and plant out in early summer of the following year. Half-ripe cuttings taken in July or August can be rooted in a frame, overwintered in a warm greenhouse, and planted out after the last expected frosts.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
A tough fibre extracted from the stems is used for making nets and similar items.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Hibiscus heterophyllus, commonly known as native rosella or toilet paper bush, is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It a shrub or small tree with white, pale pink or yellow flowers with a dark red centre and grows in New South Wales and Queensland.
Production
Plants are fast growing.
Notes
There are about 220 Hibiscus species.
Names & Synonyms
Batham, Dtharang-gange, Green Kurrajong, Queensland Sorrel, Toilet Paper Bush
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