Caper bush
4
7
3Will it grow where I live?
Caper bush is only hardy to zone 8, so outdoors year-round it needs the mildest spots in Central Europe – wine-growing regions, the Rhine valley, coasts, Lake Constance, Ticino – or a container overwintered under cover. Most of the British Isles and the Pacific coast of North America qualify. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
Or check it for your location right here:
Profile
- Family
- Capparaceae
- Habit
- Shrub
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Spread
- 3.5 m
- Growth
- slow
- Lifespan
- 40 years
- First yield
- after 3 years
- Hardiness
- zone 8–12
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- very dry – very moist
- pH
- 6 – 8
Uses
Origin & habitat
Europe - Mediterranean to East Asia - Himalayas.
Open sunny gorges, forests, and riverbanks up to 2100 meters in the Himalayas.
Frequently asked questions
Caper bush: how big does it get?
Caper bush (Capparis spinosa) grows as a Shrub and reaches roughly 1.2 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is slow.
Caper bush: what site does it need?
Caper bush tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range very dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 6 and 8.
Caper bush: is it hardy?
Caper bush is listed as hardy in zone 8–12 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Caper bush: will it grow in Central Europe?
Caper bush is only hardy to zone 8, so outdoors year-round it needs the mildest spots in Central Europe – wine-growing regions, the Rhine valley, coasts, Lake Constance, Ticino – or a container overwintered under cover. Most of the British Isles and the Pacific coast of North America qualify. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
Caper bush: is it poisonous?
No toxicity is recorded for Caper bush. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.
Caper bush: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 4/10, Medicinal 7/10, Other uses 3/10.
Plan this plant into your own garden
Permaplans plans your garden to scale on the map — with a site check, harvest calendar and over 1,000 plants. Free for iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows & Linux.
Will this plant grow where you live? → Check your site
Community experience
No first-hand reports for this plant yet.
Growing it? Write in the app what works for you – your post will show up here.
💬 Get the app and join in