I first encountered Cranberry Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) when I began working in the market garden at East End. Our Fleet Farming friends planted it and it has remained a staple through the years for many reasons…

At FarmGal Flowers, I always like to have a large crop of Cranberry Hibiscus for Fall bouquets. Let’s face it, we do not have a true Fall season here in Central Florida with the leaves changing colors, pumpkins on the vine, or apple picking. However, I’ve found that Cranberry Hibiscus foliage with its maple leaf shaped leaves and vibrant red color make our bouquets feel like Fall. It also has a pretty flower later in the season.

 

You can grow Cranberry Hibiscus from seed. In fact, it often self-sows in the market garden. I have also found that it is very easy to propagate from cuttings. Cut a piece from the top of a plant at a 45-degree angle, remove any leaves at the bottom of your stem, and place in a couple of inches of water. Within a week…

 

 

You can start Cranberry Hibiscus at the beginning of each growing season here in Zone 9b. It prefers full sun. I usually start growing it in preparation for the Fall season. That would be in August/September here. Sometimes we have it year-round although it does take a beating in the summer. It doesn’t need anything extra besides the usual compost and organic fertilizers that we give to all of our flowers. Pinch the main stem after 3 or 4 sets of leaves have grown to encourage a bushier plant. We have not had any issues with pests either!

In the Fall, we cut Cranberry Hibiscus in the morning or late afternoon. Sometimes it will wilt and I let it rehydrate for 24 hours or so. It always bounces right back. It has excellent vase life and eventually those stems may root for you as mentioned earlier.

Cranberry Hibiscus leaves are edible and very nutritious. Use caution though as they contain oxalic acid and should not be eaten in large quantities. Cranberry Hibiscus flowers bloom in the late fall and can be used to make teas. I’ve had some tasty Hibiscus Iced Tea at Buttermilk Bakery, a local bakery in Winter Park, Florida.

 

 

Watch for Cranberry Hibiscus in our bouquets this Fall. If you are ready to add it to your garden, I might be able to share cuttings with you (sorry local gardeners only) – leave me a comment below. Please share your experience growing, eating or drinking Cranberry Hibiscus below! I’d love to hear about it.