Caper bush (Capparis spinosa) - live plant

• A live, rooted plant
• Mediterranean shrub for the ornamental and kitchen garden
• Packaging suited to live plants

The caper flower opens at dawn and fades that same evening. It is large and white, with four crumpled petals, from which bursts a spray of long purple stamens several centimetres long. It is spectacular, and it happens again every day throughout the summer.

If the bud is not picked and the flower is pollinated, it produces an elongated fruit, the caper berry, which is also traditionally harvested.

The caper bush grows naturally in rock crevices and old walls, which says everything about its needs: full sun, poor, stony, perfectly free-draining soil, and very little water.

It hates standing moisture, which is by far the leading cause of losses. Plant it on a slope, in a rockery, at the top of a low wall or in a large pot, and do not enrich the soil.

Its root system goes deep and gives it remarkable drought resistance once established. Allow two to three years before a real harvest. It is deciduous and almost disappears in winter: this is normal.

Does it need pruning?
Yes, cut it back fairly hard at the end of winter. It flowers on the current year's shoots, and hard pruning encourages bud production.

Can it be grown north of the Loire?
In a pot, yes, overwintered under cover and above all kept dry. In open ground it is risky: it is winter damp, more than cold, that kills it.

Is there a thornless variety?
Yes, Capparis spinosa var. inermis, which has no prickles and is more comfortable to harvest.

When are capers harvested?
All summer long, by picking the firm, tightly closed buds before they open. In peak season, harvesting is done every two or three days.

Also worth exploring: our aromatic and edible plants and our rare plants.