Caper bush
Capparis spinosa
Botanical family: Capparaceae
Capparis spinosa, a shrub of the warm walls and rocks of the South of France (Provence, Languedoc, Roussillon) and of the whole Mediterranean. Grown for its flower buds preserved in vinegar or salt, the capers; those of Pantelleria, in Sicily, have a PGI. Cold-sensitive, it needs a warm, dry, well-drained spot; sources differ on how much cold it withstands: -5 to -10 °C according to Plants For A Future, whereas the RHS ranks it among plants to protect over winter in the United Kingdom. Sources: Tela Botanica, “Capparis spinosa L.” (Coste's flora); Plants For A Future, “Capparis spinosa”; RHS, “Capparis spinosa”; Parco Nazionale Isola di Pantelleria, “Cappero di Pantelleria IGP”.
Full sun, warm and sheltered
Chalky, dry
Very low: a plant of dry walls and rocky ground, which dislikes excess water
Semi-hardy (~-5 to -8 °C; freezes to the ground and regrows from the crown in a mild climate)
Protect over winter in your zone
Role in permaculture
A twisted Mediterranean shrub (0.5-1 m), spectacularly adapted to extreme conditions (dry, chalky, blazing sun, poor soil). Excellent in the rocky soil of the South, in a dry-stone wall. Staggered harvest in two phases: buds (capers) in May-July, fruits (caper berries or cápperone) in August.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Insects attracted or useful
Seasons & availability
A Mediterranean shrub that can be grown outdoors in the south of France; the flower buds, the capers, and the young fruits, the caperberries, are picked in summer, then kept in salt or vinegar to be available all year round.
Available: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Tela Botanica, « Capparis spinosa L. » (tela-botanica.org/bdtfx-nn-12719-description)
- Parco Nazionale Isola di Pantelleria, « Cappero di Pantelleria IGP » (www.parconazionalepantelleria.it/prodotti-dettaglio.php?id=3759)
- Plants For A Future, « Capparis spinosa » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Capparis+spinosa)
- RHS, « Capparis spinosa » (rhs.org.uk/plants/92942/capparis-spinosa/details)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Commercial capers are kept in salt or brine: their salt content is high, and it's advised to rinse them before use and to take it into account within a low-sodium diet. They're eaten in small quantity, as a condiment. For any use other than food, seek the advice of a professional.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Common varieties
Voices of peoples
Paraphrases attributed to their documented sources. Never an invented quote.
Qoheleth, the biblical author of Ecclesiastes (wisdom of ancient Judea) · Judea, ancient Near East (Second Temple period)
The poem on old age that closes Ecclesiastes states that 'the caper will have no effect' (Eccl 12:5). The Hebrew word abiyyonah, which appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, is understood as the fruit of the caper by the ancient versions (Septuagint, Vulgate, Peshitta, Aquila) and by Jewish tradition: it's the dominant interpretation, not an absolute philological certainty, part of modern exegesis reading rather that 'desire fails'. Reputed a stimulant in the ancient Near East, the fruit serves here as an image: in great age, even what was held to be an aphrodisiac no longer awakens desire.
Ecclésiaste 12,5 ; article « Caper-berry » de la Jewish Encyclopedia ; traduction JPS (« the caperberry shall fail »).
Qoheleth designates an author (or a literary persona), not a 'people' in the strict sense. The identification abiyyonah = fruit of the caper belongs to a dominant but not unanimous philological reading, the 'desire' variant remaining defended. The aphrodisiac reputation is an ancient belief, given here as such: no modern medicinal effect is asserted here.
Before you forage
This plant is often gathered from the wild. Only pick what is abundant, never a protected species, and never uproot a whole plant (roots) without the landowner's permission. Rules vary by country and region, check locally.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun, warm and sheltered exposure.
- • Ideal soil: chalky, dry.