FNPS Plant Database
Cynophalla flexuosa
limber caper, bay-leaved caper, bay-leaved capertree
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
limber caper, bay-leaved caper, bay-leaved capertree
Synonym(s):
Capparis flexuosa
Genus species:
Cynophalla flexuosa
Family:
Brassicaeae
Plant Specifics
Form:
shrub
Size:
6-12 (25) ft tall, trailing
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
white, pink
Fruit Color:
white, red, green
Phenology:
evergreen; blooms spring-summer
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
seed
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
-|----|----|----|----|----|----|----
<------------------------>
Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand
Soil pH:
calcareous (high pH)
Suitable to Grow In:
10A, 10B, 11
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
Fruits are eaten by birds.
Larval host for Florida White (Appias drusilla) and Great Southern White (Ascia monuste).
Native Habitats:
Dry sites, coastal hammocks.
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Night-blooming, fragrant
Citations:
Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida , Gainesville.
Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants. https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ , accessed 2025. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.
