Capparis cynophallophora, the Jamaica Caper, produces fragrant white flowers that turn pink/purple, developing into long brown pods containing seeds in a red pulp, used in landscaping and for wildlife, with seeds available for planting. These native shrubs/small trees thrive in sunny, well-drained coastal areas, offering beautiful blooms, attractive foliage, and edible berries (when pickled) for culinary use, making them great for hedges or specimens.
Plant Characteristics
Flowers: Fragrant, white flowers with long purple stamens that open, then change color to pink or maroon as they age.
Leaves: Glossy green, leathery, with a unique notched tip; the underside has fine brown scales.
Fruit: Cylindrical, 3-8 inch long brown pods that split open to reveal a bright coral-red flesh with shiny seeds.
Uses
Ornamental: Excellent as specimen trees, informal hedges, or screens.
Wildlife: Attracts pollinators and serves as a larval host for the Florida white butterfly; birds eat the seeds.
Culinary: The flower buds (capers) and fruits (caper berries) are edible, typically pickled or salted.
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Prefers well-drained soils.
Hardiness: Tolerates salt and drought once established; hardy to about 28°F (-2°C).
Where to Find Seeds
Seeds for Capparis cynophallophora are sold online from various sellers, often listed as "Jamaican Caper seeds," and are available for cultivation.
Read: https://gerbizor.blogspot.com/2024/08/poppy-papaver-family-papaveraceae.html?m=0#more
Caper seeds (most commonly Capparis spinosa — the spiny caper) are sold in packs of 10 for cultivation in water culture, greenhouses, or open ground.
ReplyDeleteA perennial trailing plant with beautiful, large flowers and long stamens.
ReplyDeleteFleshy, berry-like capsules containing numerous seeds. In cooking, it is not the fruits or berries themselves that are prized, but the unopened flower buds, typically consumed pickled.
ReplyDeleteTaste of the buds: Tart, slightly spicy and salty, with a piquant bitterness—reminiscent of a blend of olives and mustard oil.
ReplyDeleteSeeds are sown for seedlings in March or April.
ReplyDeleteThis plant loves light and is drought-tolerant but does not tolerate waterlogging; light sandy soil or cactus mix is suitable. In temperate climates, it is grown as a container or houseplant.
ReplyDelete