Jamaican Caper, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Jamaican caper is a Florida native that takes salt, wind and drought in stride, which makes it one of the best coastal shrubs for Southwest Florida. It is an evergreen with dark, glossy leaves and fragrant white blooms with long stamens. Give it sun, sandy well-drained soil and room, and it needs little care. We deliver and plant the 25 gallon size.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low once established; drought tolerant
- Salt:
- High; handles salt spray and coastal wind
Jamaican Caper sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Jamaican Caper | 25 Gallon |
Jamaican Caper in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 6 to 15 ft tall and 6 to 10 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low once established; drought tolerant
- Salt tolerance
- High; handles salt spray and coastal wind
- Cold tolerance
- A zone 10 plant: a hard freeze can burn it, so protect young plants inland; coastal Lee and Collier rarely get that cold
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Spacing
- 6 to 8 ft on center for a screen
- Florida native
- Yes, native to coastal Central and South Florida
- Botanical name
- Quadrella jamaicensis (formerly Capparis cynophallophora)
Where Jamaican Caper works in a SW Florida yard
Use Jamaican caper where salt, wind and dry soil defeat other shrubs: a waterfront or coastal lot, a pool-side screen or a native hedge along a property line. The dark, shimmery foliage reads well against light walls, and the evening flowers add fragrance near a patio.
It is a larval host for the Florida white butterfly, so a few chewed leaves are normal. Sea grape, silver buttonwood and firebush make good coastal native companions.
- Coastal native screen
- Salt-spray hedge
- Wildlife and butterfly garden
- Low-care accent tree
How our crew plants it
A sunny, well-drained spot is all it asks. Set the top of the 25 gallon root ball level with the ground in a hole twice as wide and no deeper, and mulch 3 inches deep. The crew sets it at the right depth, waters it in and cleans up.
Water new plantings extra within the Lee and Collier rules; once rooted, it needs little irrigation.
Care after planting
- Water young plants regularly through the first dry season, then cut back to your assigned two days or less, since established plants rarely need more.
- A light spring feeding is enough for a native shrub in sandy soil, and nitrogen and phosphorus are off limits from June 1 to September 30.
- Prune lightly after flowering to shape it, and avoid shearing hard.
- Leave the caterpillars alone, since the shrub replaces chewed leaves quickly.
What to watch for
- Caterpillars of the Florida white butterfly eat the leaves, which is usually only cosmetic on a healthy shrub.
- Soggy, poorly drained ground rots the roots, so plant where water drains.
Jamaican Caper questions we hear
Is Jamaican caper native to Florida?+
Yes. It grows wild in coastal hammocks from Brevard to Pinellas County south through the Keys, which includes Lee and Collier. Because it is native, it supports local wildlife, including the Florida white butterfly, and it is adapted to our sandy soil, salt and summer rains.
How salt tolerant is Jamaican caper?+
Very. It tolerates salt spray and coastal wind, so it works on waterfront and Gulf-side lots where many shrubs burn. It also tolerates drought once established. What it does not like is soggy ground, so plant it where water drains.
How big does Jamaican caper get?+
Most reach 6 to 15 ft tall and 6 to 10 ft wide, with an upright oval to pyramid shape. It grows slowly to moderately, so a 25 gallon plant gives you a head start. Light pruning keeps it shrub-sized, or you can let it grow into a small tree.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Jamaican Caper
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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