Perennial edibles
Caper bush
Unopened flower buds to cure or pickle before use.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Sep-Nov
Core months: September, October, November
Temperate
Sow · Aug-Oct
Core months: August, September, October
Subtropical
Sow · No window
Tropical
Sow · No window
Arid
Sow · Jun-Sep
Core months: June, July, August, September
Getting started
Sow seed in the recorded five-zone window. Use clean seed and follow the packet's depth and spacing for the named species or cultivar.
The right conditions
Choose the light, drainage and soil fertility suited to the crop; match watering to the climate and avoid prolonged waterlogging.
As it grows
Water consistently while establishing, mulch without burying the crown or stem, manage weeds early and provide support where the mature habit needs it.
Ready to harvest
Pick firm unopened flower buds and cure or pickle them before use; caper berries are harvested separately.
Important cautions
Use the unopened buds only after proper curing or pickling; raw buds and other parts are not a substitute for prepared capers.
Plant guidance: P11a propagation, food-safety and plant-specific guide audit. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.