Cranberry Hibiscus

Cranberry Hibiscus, Hibscus acetosella, grows edible maple shaped leaves and buds, both containing a sour taste and can be used to make floral teas and drinks. This is not roselle the "other" cranberry hibiscus. This is a large 4-6 foot tall shrubby semi-perennial (south Florida only). I find it usually gets powdery mildew around November at which time I allow them to go to seed then pull out the plant. It will readily reseed itself and the plants seem to do better from fresh seed rather than re-growing from the roots after dormancy over winter. Flowers are often used to make teas while the leaves have a sweet cranberry taste and are edible as is - a great summer salad green when mixed with other leafy greens.

Packet: ~20 seeds