Re: Capparis spinosa in Northern California

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• To: m*@ucdavis.edu
• Subject: Re: Capparis spinosa in Northern California
• From: k*@ix.netcom.com (Katherine Pyle)
• Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 21:31:23 -0600 (CST)

>Has anyone been successful, that is bearing flowers and fruit, growing
>Capparis spinosa in Zone 16 in Northern California?

Not zone 16, but in zone 17...I have had one for several years. It flowers
some, but has not had fruit.

>If so, what did you do?

Put it in the ground in plain, Berkeley-flatlands, heavy clay soil in a
area with pretty good drainage.

>I have had this plant for 4 years and it is less than 1' high x 1-1/2' wide,

Mine stays quite small also, but I attribute that mainly to the fact the
snails are always munching on it. I keep meaning to move it to a better
location...like into gravelly soil in a big, bottomless, galvanized tub
with a snail barrier all around the edges.

>it goes deciduous,

Yes, that is normal.

>Definitely more demure than anticipated!

The UC Berkeley Botanic Garden has a couple of lovely, huge ones. You might
contact them and find out what they do to get them to grow (and bloom) so
well.

Katherine

Katherine Pyle
Berkeley, California, USA

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