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Common Name: Syrian Bean Caper

General Information

Zygophyllum fabago is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S.E. Europe. N. Africa to W. Asia - Syria to Afghanistan.

Habitat

Dry places[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position in a dry very well-drained soil[].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The flower buds are pickled and used as a caper substitute[, , , ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.
Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.