Capparis flexuosa
Images by part: leaf (5) · flower (5) · fruit (5) · bark (1) · habit (5) · other (0)

Capparis flexuosa

Falseteeth · Bay-leaved caper · Limber caper · Dog caper · Bottlecodroot

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–8
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
0
Observations
51

Description

Source: leafsnap

Cynophalla flexuosa is a 2–4 meter high shrub.Cynophalla flexuosa flowers from early summer to mid summer. The flowers are white to pink, the thin petals are 1.5 cm long. The fruits are green and cylindrical, up to 15 cm long and contain numerous white seeds which are displayed when the ripe fruits splits open. The pulp is bright pink.Cynophalla flexuosa grows in coastal regions from Florida, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America to South America.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

The bay-leaved caper comes from open habitats, such as sunny meadows and forest edges, where light is plentiful. It thrives in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, showing adaptability to various sunlight conditions.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Bay-leaved caper comes from tropical areas, where the weather is usually warm and humid. Consequently, it is suited to high temperatures and moisture. It is sensitive to sudden temperature changes and prefers a steady thermal environment, so avoiding indoor temperature swings is important. It generally does not tolerate cold and needs warmer conditions to grow. If the ambient temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-8
Soil pH: 6-8
🌱 Fertilizer

The best time to fertilize a Bay-leaved caper is in early spring as it breaks dormancy. This supports overall growth and flower development. Fertilization improves foliage, stems, and branches, and encourages flowers that are larger, more vivid, and longer-lasting. It helps move nutrients from the roots to the blooms and enhances the plant’s health and resistance to disease.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Tree, Vine, Shrub
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Capparis
Family
Capparaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-12
Mature Height
3.05 m to 7.92 m
Mature Spread
2.13 m to 3.96 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green, Forest Green
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Size
3.05 cm to 5.08 cm
Bloom Time
Late spring, Summer, Early fall
Planting Time
Spring, Summer
Harvest Time
Late summer, Fall
Native Area
Colombia, Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Panama, Jamaica

Tags (6)

Common Names (5)

en Falseteeth
en Bay-leaved caper
en Limber caper
en Dog caper
en Bottlecodroot