Roselle Hibiscus?

Abdulla6169

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I asked Google if Roselle Hibiscuses are okay for tortoises, and actually, it seems to be everyone (most) specifically clarifies Roselle for hibiscuses. TNT puts it in there food powder, and Carolina Pet Supply sells big bags of Roselle Hibiscus powder!
http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/misc/edible.htm
So I can grow it, eat the crops and feed the leaves.... I love the fruit if this plant, called carcade here, tastes kind of sour... Love this stuff :)
 

Yellow Turtle01

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The flowers look much smaller and tort sized than the Hibiscus I grow... I bet your tort will love it :p You can make tea out of them too! (not big on tea, but you could try it!)
 

Potato_king

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Tom

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Is Roselle Hibiscus safe for tortoises to eat? I'm taking about this plant:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roselle_(plant)
I got seeds 10 years ago from my friend from Senegal. This is an excellent tortoise food. The leaves, calyxes, and little flowers are all good tortoise food. I grow some and feed it out every year. At the end of the season I collect and save seeds for the next year.

There are two varieties. One with larger rounder leaves, pink flowers, and red calyxes. The other with marijuana-like leaves, yellow flowers and greenish-yellow calyxes. Both are excellent tortoise food, and the tortoises LOVE this stuff.

"Hibiscus tea" is actually made from the calyx of this plant. Most people think it is made from the flowers of "regular" hibiscus plants.

I've never been able to start seeds inside and then move the seedlings outside. Not even with attempts at acclimation. Best to start the seeds outside. This plant grows well in full hot sun. Just keep it watered.
 

TammyJ

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Abdulla, are you still around? Your post was in October 2014. Been a while!
But we got some nice information on the thread anyway!
 
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