Capparaceae
Capparis sepiaria var. subglabra
Hedge Caper-bush
S
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
A scrambling, prickly, evergreen shrub, typically reaching 3 to 5 metres tall, with young stems that are greenish and initially short-hairy, becoming mostly hairless with age. It features sharp, paired, hooked thorns and broadly elliptic leaves, 1.5-4.5 cm long, which can be sparsely hairy or entirely hairless. White or cream, sweetly scented flowers appear in clusters, followed by spherical, fleshy fruits that ripen to purple-black.
Where it works in Kilifi
This drought-tolerant shrub is ideal for sunny, dry areas of a Kilifi-coast garden. Its dense, thorny habit makes it an excellent choice for security hedging or boundary planting, thriving in various soils including clay. It can also be used in ecological restoration for dry deciduous woodland and thicket environments.
Growing notes
Once established, it exhibits excellent drought tolerance, requiring minimal watering (every 2-3 weeks). As an evergreen, it benefits from consistent moisture to maintain its foliage. Caution is advised due to its sharp, hooked thorns and reported toxicity to grazing animals.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: wikipedia.org, zimbabweflora.co.zw, malawiflora.com, mozambiqueflora.com, grokipedia.com, theferns.info. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.