Here are their most important needs.
Light
Caper bushes need plenty of direct sunlight to thrive.
Plant them somewhere where they can get at least six to eight hours of light a day.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Soil
Caper bushes are pretty easy-going when it comes to theirsoil.
The same goes for the pH level of theirsoilacidic, neutral, and alkalineare all fine options.
The only necessity caper bushes have is a planting location that is well-draining.
The Spruce / K. Dave
The bush hates “wet feet” and will languish if its soil does not dry out quickly.
Water
Caper bushes have a deep root system and foliage that finds and retain moisture easily.
After this, only minimal watering will be necessary and the plant will becomedrought-tolerant.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Caper bushes are onlyhardydown to around 18 degrees Fahrenheit and will die if exposed to temperatures lower than this.
Fertilizer
An established caper bush can thrive in highly infertile soil and won’t need additional feeding.
For the amounts to use, follow product label instructions.
The Spruce / K. Dave
The optimal time to collect cuttings is February to April.
If you want to give it a try, begin by soaking the seeds for 24 hours.
The medium you choose to sow the seeds in should be loose, well-draining, and moist.
Although germination can start around a month after sowing, it can also take up to three months.
Great care should be taken when transplanting delicate seedlingsthey don’t take kindly to having their roots disturbed.
A 4- to 6-inch pot should be sufficient for seedlings and younger plants.
When the plant about doubles in size, repot in a larger container and add new soil.
Continue to repot once a year to make it replenish the nutrients in the soil.
How Long Does Caper Bush Bloom?
What Do Caper Bush’s Flowers Look and Smell Like?
These plants produce showy blooms on long pedicils that are 2 to 3 inches wide.
Keep the soil moist and leave the buds unpicked when they appear in the new blooming season.
This will promote more flowering shoots in the following season.
These are oblong, edible fruits that can be harvested, pickled, and used similar to olives.
If left on the vine, they will eventually burst open revealing their seeds and dry out.
These plants grow slowly, reaching maturity in about two years and hitting optimal bud production the following year.
Once your bush is producing well, you’ll be able to start harvesting buds during the summer.
ensure any buds you pick are dark green, tight, and at least 1/4-inch wide.
Pick them in the morningthey may start to open as the day gets hotter.
The buds will then need to be sun-dried before they’re brined, salted, or pickled.
Specialty Crop: Caper.
University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources.
Sastry, K.S., Mandal, B., Hammond, J., Scott, S.W., Briddon, R.W.
(2019).Capparis spinosa(Caper bush).
In: Encyclopedia of Plant Viruses and Viroids.Springer, New Delhi.
