5 Seeds Capparis spinosa Caper Bush Edible Perennial Flowering Shrub

Capparis spinosa, commonly called caper bush, is a trailing, warm-climate perennial shrub grown for its rounded green leaves and conspicuous white flowers with long, showy violet stamens. Its unopened flower buds are the familiar capers used in Mediterranean cooking, while the plant itself makes an attractive, drought-tolerant ornamental for sunny borders, rock gardens, and containers. This seed offering brings a distinctive culinary and ornamental species to gardeners who enjoy growing something out of the ordinary.

Caper bush is prized both for its edible buds and for its sprawling habit, which suits warm, dry sites and poor, well-drained soils. The plant works well cascading over walls or spilling from large pots, and its buds can be harvested and pickled for use in sauces, salads, and Mediterranean dishes. Growth is best in full sun with sharp drainage, and plants benefit from a warm, sheltered position. Established plants are long-lived and can be pruned in late winter to keep a tidy shape.
Species: Capparis spinosa
Type: Perennial flowering shrub
Plant_Habit: Sprawling, trailing shrub
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Poor to average, sharply drained, sandy or rocky
Days_to_Harvest: Bud harvest generally begins in the second or third growing season
Zones: 9 to 11
Germination: Sow seed indoors; germination can be slow and uneven
Sowing: Surface sow and press into the medium; light aids germination
Spacing: 36 to 60 inches between plants
Notes: Prefers warm, dry conditions and excellent drainage