Description
Also known as: Roselle, Flor De Jamaica, Sorrel
The Florida Cranberry is one of the most sustainable crops to grow in the Sunshine State. At one time, the Florida Cranberry was a bigger crop in Florida than Citrus and we are working to bring it back.
Loaded with flavor, these delicious fruits can be eaten raw (chopped in salads, with yogurt, snack, etc.), cooked (cranberry sauce/relish, deserts, with meats, etc.), or made into a delicious tea.
Grow to make your own fresh tea and an endless variety of recipes. Native to Ethiopia but grown widely though out the world, with the exception of the United States and for no good reason! This amazing Florida cranberry fruits abundantly in the fall and the entire plants fruit and leaves are edible.
The Florida Cranberry is low maintenance because it is naturally acclimated to the Florida Climate.
Florida Growing Instructions
Start seeds in a tray or container between March through August. Transfer plant starts into the ground anytime during the Summer. Throughout the rainy season (Summer), plants will grow into a bush, approximately 6 feet tall. Harvest calyxes (fruits) during the months of October through December. Make sure that plants are watered every day.
General Growing Instructions
Plant after the last frost or start indoors and move outside after the threat of frost has passed. It will grow to be around 6 feet tall in the Fall and will be covered in calyxes (fruits).
Michelle Reyes (verified owner) –
Arrived quickly. Plenty of seeds to try and get a successful plant.
Betsy –
Does this bush die back after one season?
admin (verified owner) –
Betsy,
Yes it does. Florida Cranberries are annuals, meaning that they die back when the cold weather hits. Fortunately, they produce lots of fruit (calyxes-the fleshy buds), each containing many seeds that naturally fall to the ground and that you can save. This means that you can save the seed for next year’s planting and they will usually come up on their own, from where it was previously seeded, each year.
Samantha Greco (verified owner) –
Very pleased with these! Good germination rate and I’m having success with them in large pots as well as in the soil. The flowers are beautiful as well.
Cheryl (verified owner) –
VERY pleased with these. I live in north central Florida and planted in mid April in the ground. Fertilized with goat manure and fish emulsion twice. Plants grew to 8’ tall! Had bountiful harvest in November and made lots of delicious jam and shared with neighbors who had never heard of it before. Now everyone wants to grow them. I’ve read that they contain 10 times more Vit C than an orange.