Caesalpinia pulcherrima Mexican Flame

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This variety of caesalpinia has very bright flowers turning from yellow to red - with yellow, orange and red flowers in the same bunch. The stem is covered with soft thorns that feel like feather. Medium size shrub or samll tree, perfect for small yards or patio. It is moderately tolerant of salty conditions. Peacock flower benefits from pruning, and can be shaped to tree form or shrubby bush form. The striking orange red flowers are an attention grabber! Use peacock flower as a specimen or in a mixed shrub border. It has an open, spreading habit and the branches sometimes get too long for their own good and break off. Still, a line of peacock flowers makes a showy fine-textured screen or informal hedge. You can cut peacock flowers to the ground in late winter or early spring to get a bushier, more compact shrub.

Capparis spinosa

When grown in suitable climates, Capparis spinosa requires full sun and moderate water. Established plants are very drought tolerant and can survive extended dry or hot periods due to their deep, extensive root systems. In cold regions, Capparis spinosa is best grown in large pots which can be moved indoors or onto a sheltered porch during cold snaps. The plant's optimum soil type should be well-draining and (preferably) consisting of a base of coarser materials such as clay, gravel or sand. To maintain a reasonable hedge or groundcover, plants should be clipped every two to three months.

Capparis spinosa has small, pink or white flowers which attract both butterflies and hummingbirds. While not the most showy plant, it works well as a low-growing spiny hedge or groundcover, growing only 12 to 24 inches tall. It is also edible and offers ethnomedical qualities, as well as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. While an excellent alternative to more traditional hedge plants, Capparis spinosa can produce between one and nine fruits each year. While not very large (about the size of an olive), the fruits are full of flavor and have unique polyphenols that can make them an alternative to traditional spices. Capparis spinosa fruits offer a wide range of health benefits including antibacterial activity, relief from chronic diseases like diabetes and heart issues, and anticancer properties. Additionally, consuming some of the fruits have been linked to improved metabolism, better digestion and increased immunity.

Capers of commerce are immature flower buds which have been pickled in vinegar or preserved in granular salt. Semi-mature fruits (caperberries) and young shoots with small leaves may also be pickled for use as a condiment. Smaller buds (both with less than one centimeter diameter) are considered more valuable than the larger (more than 1" diameter). Capers have a sharp piquant flavor and add pungency, a peculiar aroma and saltiness to comestibles such as pasta sauces, pizza, fish, meats and salads.

Capparis tomentosa

Mostly a robust woody climber but occasionally a shrub or small tree, armed with sharp, paired, hooked thorns. Flowers quite showy, yellowish-green with a mass of long white or pinkish stamens.

Carissa carandas

The caranda shrub will begin to fruit in its second or third year from seed.

Carissa carandas (Karanda) is a small tree native to India. It grows up to 10-20 ft tall and requires full sun and moderate water. It is an ethnomedical plant with white or off-white flowers that are fragrant and attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. It has thorns or spines and is sea or salt tolerant. It can grow in USDA Zones 9-11.

The fruits of the Karanda tree has many uses and is high in nutrients. The ripe fruit has a sweet taste and can be eaten raw, while the unripe fruit has a sour taste and is used medicinally as an astringent. The ripe fruit has been used to treat biliousness and scurvy, and is thought to have a range of other healthy benefits. The tree is capable of producing up to 50-60 fruits a season.

Karanda is best suited to a deep, well-drained soil, and if the soil is too wet, it may be prone to excessive vegetative growth and lower fruit production. This plant can be grown in pots in colder regions, and needs to be given extra protection in winter. It can also be trained into a hedge. As with many other plants, the Karanda is usually propagated by seed, taking around two or three years to produce fruit.

Carissa macrocarpa, Carissa grandiflora

Carissa macrocarpa (Natal Plum) is a native to South Africa, It was first introduced into the United States in 1886 by the horticulturist Theodore L. Meade. Its fragrant star-like white or off-white flowers bear an edible fruit. This attractive, evergreen shrub can be used as a large bush, from 5-10 feet tall, as a small shrub from 2-5 ft, or a groundcover and low-growing, about 2 ft high. It can also be used for bonsai. It requires full sun, regular water, and moderate water for optimal growth.

Carissa macrocarpa's flowers bloom from May to June. Its oval fruit, with tender, smooth skin turns bright magenta-red to dark-crimson when ripe and must be slightly soft to the touch to be eaten raw. It blooms an abundance of 1-2 inch fruits. As well as edible, the fruit has a host of health benefits, containing vitamins A, B1, and C, and minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorus.

In addition to being an aesthetically pleasing shrub, Carissa macrocarpa makes a great plant for barriers, with it's thick thorny or spiny foliage. It also makes a good container specimen or bonsai, making it a great and versatile addition to any garden. The mature plant is cold hardy down to at least 30F for a short time and can tolerate the harsh conditions at the seaside, being a salt tolerant plant. Carissa macrocarpa is grown in USDA Zone: 9-11 and has moderate drought tolerance, making it a robust species.