Capparis spinosa 'Inermis' - Caper

The Caper shrub (Capparis spinosa) produces the well-known capers. However, capers are not the fruits, but the approximately pea-sized, unopened flower buds. They are pickled in vinegar to develop their typical taste. If the buds are not picked, they unfold to slight pink, beautiful flowers of 4 to 5 cm in diameter with a cluster of purple stamens in the center. When caring for caper shrubs, less is more. These undemanding shrubs even grow out of wall cracks in the Mediterranean region. Accordingly, as pot plants they need poor, stony-sandy and well draining substrate. The sun- and heat-loving branches are very flexible. Once they are 20 cm long, the branches bend to the ground again, thus making the Caper shrubs good ground cover or cascading plants. In one of today's growing areas on the Aeolian Islands, offshore from Sicily, Caper shrubs grow shrubby through ongoing pruning and tying up. Dying back in winter the branches will sprout again in spring. Our variety ‘Inermis’ has no thorns. Please note: When delivered in spring, Caper shrubs still have very short shoots.

Quality:

well-known spice plants; exotic & large flowers; small-growing; easy to care for & heat tolerant

Use:

in pots from April/May to September/October outside on balcony, terrace or in the garden - during winter in an unheated winter quarter; all year round in an unheated or sporadically heated winter garden

Pflege im Winter:

Pflege im Sommer: