One of the things I love about gardening is the opportunity to grow things that are rare an unusual.  That is, things that aren’t typically found in the local produce aisle or farmers market, either because they are unfamiliar and thus unpopular, or because they don’t ship well.

One such plant I’m growing this year is Hibiscus sabdariffa, or Thai Red Roselle.  The plant is grown for its leaves (for eating), its stalks (for fiber), and its fleshy flower calixes (for tea and beverages).  There’s a lot of really interesting information and history about roselle in this document from Purdue.

I realize that “rare” and “unusual” are relative terms.  I realize too that I am far outside the normal growing region for this plant, but I have read of it being grown successfully in California, and growing from seed is an inexpensive way to at least see the plant, even if it never successfully fruits or flowers.  The seedlings are gorgeous and robust, their stems streaked with crimson, and I can hardly wait to get them into the ground in a month or so.