Ok, I'm confused on these two roselle hibisucus

I bought some seeds through e-bay before, and some seeds never germinate, this year, it seem that some guy is trying to cheat. I experience after sending money, the seeds never arrive and the seller no reply and change ID. Because of that I prefer joing gardening group or forum, and exchange seeds from them, they are the genuine people.

Chia ~ is there any problem with swapping seeds in your country? Like having them sent via mail? I am sure plants would be impossible. pod

You have to be careful of the hibiscus seed sellers on eBay, there's at least one who has pictures of all these flowers that are obviously hybrids but claims s/he's selling seeds of that plant when there's no way they'll come true from seed. And many of their flower pics are obviously Photoshopped too. I'm not sure how many there are like that. It's tricky to spot that they're a scam unless you recognize that the pics are Photoshopped and unless you know that the fancy hybrids won't come true from seed--I think by the time people buy the seeds, grow them, and then figure out it's not the plant they thought they were buying, it's too late to put negative feedback on eBay.

Hi Podster, so far no problem with sending seeds through mail. I have swapped seeds with oversea on and on, but not cutting and plants, as it need permit.

Ya, Ecrane3, you are right, I think u refer to the same guy, S/He's normally use Singapore and Australia address. In fact I made complain, but seem no body can stop S/he cheating.

I know there are some seeds company in US and England, which are very well established, but I wonder why they do not sell hybrid hibiscus seeds?

Probably because the hybrids don't come true from seed so you never know what you're going to get. Most seed companies sell things where they know what the babies are going to look like, so they can put nice pictures in their catalogs that show people exactly what the plants they grow are going to look like. The American Hibiscus Society I know does have seeds available, but I'm not sure if they would send them to Malaysia or not. I know someone posted in another thread around here how to get seeds from them, I don't remember which thread it was in though.

Are they any individual here or other organisation selling seeds or just charge for postage?

I'm not sure if the hibiscus society charges more than just what the postage would cost or not (I've never gotten any from them). Anyone around here who has seeds would just send them for postage, either that or as a trade if you had some nice seeds that they wanted.

ecrane, how do i get in touch with the ahs? i would love to get some seeds sent to me and then I can send them to chia.

we had our plant swap in arlington, tx. today. i took a branch of sabdariffa with me. there were a whole bunch of sabdariffa eaters before it was all said and done. it was a big hit. even 'ol dave was eatin' roselle. hahahaha just curious though.........does it give you gas?

Check around the recent threads on here--I think someone posted a couple days ago about it but I don't remember what thread it was on. I've never gotten anything from them so I don't know.

Mamajack I just posted the letter to u with around 30 seeds of Roselle, I think I better send u another pack, so that u have enough seeds to give to your TX friends.

Just to share some information on how to make dry fruits on Roselle calyx.

1. collect some calyx, cut the bottom part.

2. use a chopsticks to get rid of the seeds inside.

3. wash and clean, and soak in warm water (50 degree) for a while, so that insect will be killed.

4. put calyx in jar, add in some sugar. The amount of sugar will depend on indiviual, how u like the taste. Then cover up and put in fridge for one week.

5. After one week, now is the time to eat.

Is is like eating a bowl of fruit? I love the detailed info and photos ~ thank you Chia.

I now know what else to use my chopsticks for. Use them to twist my hair up off my neck too...

Selamat pagi Chia...great info there on Malaysia's national flower. I was hesitating to purchase hibiscus seeds from one eBay seller. He is from South East Asia I think. This clears my doubts.
Kathy, isn't it wonderful that DG is global?

Hi Heavenscape,

Good morning to u too....although hibiscus is our national flower, but no body sell tropical seeds here, and it seem that not many people know how to pollinate hibiscus seeds, many think that hibiscus will not produce seeds pod. The same case for South East Asia. So if anybody from S.E.A has any seeds for sale, u better be careful.

Thanks Chia. I sent you a dmail.

Yum, that's quite interesting, sounds good.

chia, i got you some trop hib. seeds. ya---hoo! they will be sent out tomorrow. just for fun... one of the seed crosses are from key west and chocolate berry truffles.

Mamajack, you are so kind. I bet Chia will appreciate you.

YA!....Mamajack u are so great! Many many thanks to u!

I Googled both of those but couldn't find either. does anyone have ideas where to find them?

Hi There,
The person to contact with your request for tropical seeds is:
The Seed Bank
Bob Carran
13190 113 Ave. N.
Largo, FL 33774

727-596-6922

He's with the American Hibiscus Society and for postage he will send you some seeds - shows that they've shipped to 75 different countries so I'm sure you'll be able to get some. They don't take paypal but I'm sure if you get a money order (drawn on a US bank) he may send...

Chia - the dishonest creep that you are talking about on e-bay goes by the name of IMPERIALBOTANICGARDEN. I purchased some seeds from him and he didn't send the complete shipment - when I complained he was unresponsive and became verbally abusive. I posted a -ve feedback and had E-bay get onto him. In the end he was frantic as he had another -ve posted just after mine said I was causing him business harm. Well he sent the seeds and refunded me the money. I'd suggest to anyone to stay WAYYY far away from him - he's the only one that comes up when you search on exotic hibiscus seeds. I suspect the seeds will never germinate so I've not tried by the one I bought is included (would be beautiful if it did though). He alters the true picture of the flower to deceive

Ultimateshopper, that's the one I almost bought from eBay.

Heaven count your blessings - he's awful - looks like he's got a ton of -ve feedback since then too - but he's also selling alot many of which seem to be people buying several seeds at a time. He's got pictures of hybrids too which - I now know won't produce seeds of that flower but it's parents instead. You guys are such a bunch of nice people I wanted to warn you so you don't get scammed... I think it turned out pretty well for me seeing that I did'nt lose any money but many are not so fortunate!

Well Utlimateshopper, I called my brother who lives in Singapore to check on all the nurseries there whether they have hybrid hibiscus seeds for sale. Guess you know their answers. Yes, I'd love to have those exotic looking trops in my yard. For now I'll rely on AHS recommended specialists, no matter the costs.
Glad you got your money back.

and i used that address above to mr. carran. i got my seeds yesterday. chia they are yours. mailed 'em today. lol.

Hi Ultimateshopper, u are right, but I was so unfortunate that neither refund or seeds is send to me. I complain, but nothing has been done. I kept on telling my friend that never buy seeds from that fellow. I think e-bay should try to stop him for cheating people, or else people will lose confident.

Also thanks to Mamajack, who is so kind to me.

That was fast Mamajack! I'm still waiting on their email reply. I requested of possibity of seeds sent to 2 int'l addresses and 2 stateside...Hmm.
Maybe I should just do a snail mail.

i thought it was fast too. i sent him 3.00 and he mailed me 3 packs of seeds (though not a lot of seeds in the packs) and 2.00 back. on the seed packs the cross names are printed. i couldn't find any of them though. is there a place to go look at hib. picture like tinker's for daylilies?

Hmm..perhaps try "googling" the names.

i did without success. key west was one. and some kind of chocolate something truffle.

Chocolate Berry Truffle? Check Matt's website www.hibiscusplace.com I'm pretty sure he's got it on there.

thanks ecrane but i couldn't find it there either.

Here's the page on his site with Chocolate Berry Truffle (of course I'm not sure that's the one you were looking for, there might be another one with a similar name)
http://www.hibiscusplace.com/html/c__2.html

i am pretty sure that was the name. wow, those flowers are unbelievable.

I added that site to my favs. Chocolate berry's unique! Thanks ecrane.