Capparis arborea
brush caper berry
Overview
Capparis arborea is a shrub or small tree growing 10-33 feet (3-10 m) tall, with a dense, often spreading crown; young plants and regrowth may carry short, curved spines that are usually lost with age. Leaves are alternate, leathery, oval to elliptic, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, glossy dark green above and dull beneath, with a small notch or short point at the tip. Flowers are 1.6-2.8 inches (4-7 cm) across, with four cream to white petals and numerous long white stamens tipped with purple, opening in the evening and scented. The fruit is a rounded to pear-shaped berry 1.2-2.4 inches (3-6 cm) across on a stalk, ripening greenish to grey with soft pulp and many seeds. Flowers open singly and last about a day. Growth is slow to moderate, and the tree forms a rounded crown in the open and a taller, narrower form within forest. Foliage is held year-round. The plant grows in warm, frost-free climates and is damaged by hard frost.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from north-eastern Queensland south to north-eastern New South Wales. Grows in dry and subtropical rainforest, vine thickets, and rainforest margins, on fertile, well-drained soils from the lowlands to low mountain slopes.Suggested Uses
Grown in subtropical and tropical gardens, rainforest plantings, and bush-food collections, spaced 8-16 feet (2.5-5 m) apart. Used as a shade and habitat tree for native birds and butterflies. The ripe berry is edible and has a history of Aboriginal use as bush food.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 33'
Width/Spread8' - 20'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring and summer, mainly from October to February, with timing varying by season. Scented cream to white flowers open in the evening and last about a day, each opening singly. Berries ripen over the following months, and a plant may carry flowers and developing fruit together.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to whiteFoliage Description
glossy dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade in warm, frost-free climates on fertile, free-draining soils with steady moisture. Watering through the first one to two years aids establishment; established plants tolerate short dry periods but grow more strongly with regular moisture. Hard frost damages foliage and young stems, limiting it to subtropical and tropical districts. Caterpillars of several butterfly species feed on the leaves. Growth is slow to moderate, and plants take several years to begin flowering. Few other pests trouble it.Pruning
Tolerates pruning to shape or to maintain a single-stemmed small tree, carried out after fruiting. Lower branches can be removed to raise the crown where a tree form is grown. Young spiny growth makes early pruning slow.Pruning Schedule
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fall