TRIO NURSERY
Caper Bush (Capparis Spinosa) is native to the Mediterranean region
of Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
A hardy perennial deciduous sprawling shrub grows to about 3 feet tall
The unopened flower buds are the edible caper of commerce begin to appear in late spring continuing on through late summer.
These buds should be picked on dry days. Harvesting is ongoing through the growing season, in Southern Italy caper flower buds are collected by hand every 8 to 12 days.
As the flowers are born on first year branches , you can cut back plants annually without sacrificing flowering plus you have a healthier as well as bushier plant.
The capers are preserved either in vinegar or under layers of salt in a jar. Raw capers are bland flavored and need to be cured to develop their piquant flavor.
Caper fruits (caperberry, capperone, or taperone) are used in making caper flavored sauces ,or sometimes pickled for eating like small gherkin cucumbers.
Caper bushes thrive when planted in lean well drained soil in a hot sunny location with little to no water once established. It does best in well drained soil : an ideal mix would be 1 part potting soil to 1 part pumice rock or lava rock , with 25 % horticultural sand added. However the newly planted bush will require some watering to get established, just be careful not to overwater or you will lose the plant.
It has been our experience that the plant you receive might defoliate due to the trauma of shipping , not to worry it will come back.
If planted straight out into the garden, it is best to wait until late afternoon. The lack of direct sun will help your plant make the transition from parcel to garden much easier.
Recently we have found that the Caper plants experience less stress/setback if the plastic bag is removed from the rootball and then the root ball still wrapped in dampened newsprint is planted in your container of garden.
Protect your new Caper plant from the direct sun for a few weeks, water frequently but very lightly , just enough to keep the soil moist/damp never allow the soil to become wet or soggy.
Capers are hardy to 20 degrees F though will show some top growth and leaf damage, they are root hardy to 18 degrees F.
The Caper bush is very salt tolerant and will flourish within the salt spray zones of the sea as well as near brackish water.
As one local plants man put it “ A simple rule of thumb is that a caper bush can be planted anywhere an Olive tree grows.
We hope you have found this helpful, enjoy your new plant
Kip
Trio Nursery
830 Toro Canyon Road
Santa Barbara CA 93108
805 969 9178
TRIO NURSERY
Caper Bush (Capparis Spinosa) is native to the Mediterranean region
of Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
A hardy perennial deciduous sprawling shrub grows to about 3 feet tall
The unopened flower buds are the edible caper of commerce begin to appear in late spring continuing on through late summer.
These buds should be picked on dry days. Harvesting is ongoing through the growing season, in Southern Italy caper flower buds are collected by hand every 8 to 12 days.
As the flowers are born on first year branches , you can cut back plants annually without sacrificing flowering plus you have a healthier as well as bushier plant.
The capers are preserved either in vinegar or under layers of salt in a jar. Raw capers are bland flavored and need to be cured to develop their piquant flavor.
Caper fruits (caperberry, capperone, or taperone) are used in making caper flavored sauces ,or sometimes pickled for eating like small gherkin cucumbers.
Caper bushes thrive when planted in lean well drained soil in a hot sunny location with little to no water once established. It does best in well drained soil : an ideal mix would be 1 part potting soil to 1 part pumice rock or lava rock , with 25 % horticultural sand added. However the newly planted bush will require some watering to get established, just be careful not to overwater or you will lose the plant.
It has been our experience that the plant you receive might defoliate due to the trauma of shipping , not to worry it will come back.
If planted straight out into the garden, it is best to wait until late afternoon. The lack of direct sun will help your plant make the transition from parcel to garden much easier.
Recently we have found that the Caper plants experience less stress/setback if the plastic bag is removed from the rootball and then the root ball still wrapped in dampened newsprint is planted in your container of garden.
Protect your new Caper plant from the direct sun for a few weeks, water frequently but very lightly , just enough to keep the soil moist/damp never allow the soil to become wet or soggy.
Capers are hardy to 20 degrees F though will show some top growth and leaf damage, they are root hardy to 18 degrees F.
The Caper bush is very salt tolerant and will flourish within the salt spray zones of the sea as well as near brackish water.
As one local plants man put it “ A simple rule of thumb is that a caper bush can be planted anywhere an Olive tree grows.
We hope you have found this helpful, enjoy your new plant
Kip
Trio Nursery
830 Toro Canyon Road
Santa Barbara CA 93108
805 969 9178