Capparis spinosa
Caper
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Caper (Capparis spinosa) - Description
Capparis spinosa, the caper bush, also called Flinders rose, is a perennial winter-deciduous plant that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers. The plant is best known for the edible flower buds (capers), often used as a seasoning, and the fruit (caper berry), both of which are usually consumed pickled.
Caper (Capparis spinosa) - Blooming
Blooms large, white to pinkish-white flowers.
Caper (Capparis spinosa) - Growth
Small shrubs, found in warm, dry, rocky places. Capers grow best with dry heat and full sun. They thrive in areas with around 350 mm of annual rainfall. Capers are salt tolerant, and are often seen growing along sea shores. Moreover, they can tolerant low nutrient, gravelly soil. In their native regions, capers commonly grow spontaneously in cracks and crevices in stone walls and in rocks. Where not hardy, Capparis should be raised in a greenhouse (minimum temperature of 10C or 50F), or plant young capers in a greenhouse and plant out when ready.
Caper (Capparis spinosa) - Planting
Propagate Capparis from the seed in spring. Fresh seeds germinate easily, but dried seeds may become dormant and will not germinate easily. If the latter is the case, soak the seeds in warm water (40C or 105F) for 1 day. Then, wrap the seeds in a moist cloth, and place in a sealed jar inside of a refrigerator for 2-3 months. After this, soak the seeds in warm water like before. Plant approximately 1 cm deep into well drained soil. Capers can also be propagated from stem cuttings with bottom heat, in late winter or early spring (Feb-April). Make sure to use stems from the basal areas.
Caper (Capparis spinosa) - Pest
Capparis is prone to some viruses and insect pests including weevils and members of the Lepidoptera.
Caper (Capparis spinosa) - Interesting facts
The edible Capers seen in Mediterranean cooking come from the species C. spinosa. The Caper itself is not the fruit of the plant. It is actually the pickeled, immature flower bud. The mature flower is rather beautiful, but Capers that are harvested for the edible parts will be stripped of floral buds. The flowers look similar to those of the Cleomes, but some studies have shown that Cleomes are more closely related to Mustards than they are to Capers.
Caper (Capparis spinosa) - Soil and irrigation
Capers grow well in gravelly, nutrient poor, sharply drained soils. They are also salt tolerant.
