Pocket BotanistGuide botanique
Caper bush.
Capparis spinosa
Prononciation KAP-uh-ris spy-NO-suh
Aussi appelée Caper, Flinders-rose, caperbush
The caper bush is a charming, sprawling shrub that produces beautiful white flowers with long purple stamens. It is native to the Mediterranean and thrives in hot, dry conditions. You will love it for its unique culinary buds and its ability to handle tough, rocky soil.
En un coup d'œil
- Niveau d'entretien
- Moyenne
- Type de plante
- Perennial shrub
- Lumière
- Full sun
- Lumière en intérieur
- Soleil direct
- Arrosage
- Tous les 7 à 14 jours
- Taille adulte
- 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide
- Croissance
- Moyenne
- Rusticité
- USDA 8 à 11
- Floraison
- Late spring to early autumn
Entretien
Give this plant plenty of sun and ensure the soil drains exceptionally well to prevent rot. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet for too long. It is quite drought tolerant once established, so do not worry if you forget to water it occasionally.
- Arrosage
- Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
- Engrais
- Feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.
- Taille
- Prune back in late winter to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
- Rempotage
- Repot only when the plant has clearly outgrown its container.
- Sol
- Rocky, sandy, or poor soil
- pH du sol
- Neutral to alkaline
- Température
- -5 à 40°C
- Humidité
- 20 à 50%
- Résistance à la sécheresse
- Élevée
- Durée de vie
- Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years.
- Parfum
- Léger
- Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins
- Élevée
Signes qu'il faut rempoter
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes
- Water sitting on the surface for too long
- Growth slowing significantly during the active season
Sécurité
- Humains
- The plant is not considered toxic, but raw consumption is not recommended due to bitter compounds.
- Enfants
- Keep children away from the sharp, hooked spines on the stems.
- Allergènes de contact
- The stems are covered in small, sharp, hooked spines that can scratch skin.
- Allergènes aéroportés
- There are no notable respiratory allergens associated with this plant.
- Comestibilité
- Only the unopened flower buds and the fruit are typically consumed after proper preparation.
Comment l'identifier
- Rounded, fleshy, dark green leaves
- Showy white flowers with purple stamens
- Spiny stipules at leaf bases
- Low, sprawling, shrubby growth habit
- Hauteur
- 0,3 à 1m
- Envergure
- 1 à 2m
- Feuilles
- green, evergreen
- Fleurs
- white, pink, 5 à 8cm
- Fruits
- green, red, Late summer
Problèmes courants
- Root rot — Occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long.
La cultiver
- Multiplication
- cuttings, seed
- Quand planter
- spring
- Hivernage
- In cooler climates, move containers to a frost free location. Ensure the plant stays dry during its winter dormancy.
- En pot
- It grows very well in pots, provided the container has excellent drainage and is at least 30 centimeters deep.
Cuttings
- 1. Take semi hardwood cuttings in late summer.
- 2. Dip the base in rooting hormone.
- 3. Plant in a sandy, well draining mix.
- 4. Keep in a bright spot with moderate humidity.
Group this plant with other Mediterranean herbs that prefer lean soil and minimal water.
Bonnes associations
- Lavande d'Angleterre — They share similar requirements for full sun and well drained soil.
- Thyme — Both plants thrive in dry, rocky conditions.
Espèces similaires
- Capparis ovata — It is a closely related species with similar growth habits and appearance.
Science
- Famille
- Capparaceae
- Genre
- Capparis
- Ordre
- Brassicales
- Classe
- Magnoliopsida
- Région d'origine
- Mediterranean region and parts of Western Asia.
- Préservation
- It is not currently listed as endangered or protected.
It survives in harsh, rocky environments by sending deep taproots into crevices to find moisture.
- Intérêt pour la faune
- nectar source
- Pollinisateurs
- abeilles, papillons
- Utilisations
- culinary, ornamental, xeriscaping
Au fil des saisons
Repères écologiques
- Salinité
- 4/9
- Réaction du sol
- 7/9
- Lumière
- 9/9
- Température
- 7/9
- Humidité
- 2/9
- Nutriments
- 3/9
Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.
Ce qu'on demande souvent
- Can I grow capers in a pot?
- Yes, they thrive in containers if given excellent drainage and plenty of sun.
- How do I harvest capers?
- Pick the tight, unopened buds in the morning before they begin to swell.
D'où vient le nom
The specific epithet spinosa refers to the sharp, hooked spines found along the stems.
Bon à savoir
- Capers have been harvested from the wild for thousands of years.
- The plant is incredibly drought tolerant once established.
- It often grows in the cracks of ancient stone walls in the Mediterranean.
- The flowers only last for a single day.
Aussi dans
Ta plante a mauvaise mine ?
Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.
Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.