Mulberry Tree

Mulberry trees are fast-growing trees in the genus Morus that produce sweet, juicy berries in shades of white, red and deep purple-black. There are roughly 10 to 16 species, and their fruit has been eaten fresh and used in pies, tarts, jams and wines for thousands of years.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Mulberry
Scientific name	Morus
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Rosales
Family	Moraceae
Type	Fruit tree, fast-growing when young
Habitat	Deep, moist, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun
Native range	Warm regions of Asia, Africa and the Americas
Colours	Deep purple or red fruit
Height	Rarely above 15 m
Edible parts	Sweet fruit, 2-3 cm long

The Three Main Mulberries

Three kinds of mulberry are grown most often as fruit trees:

• Black mulberry (Morus nigra) comes from southwestern Asia. Many people think its dark, tangy-sweet berries have the best flavor of all.
• Red mulberry (Morus rubra) is native to eastern North America. Its dark red to purple berries are also very tasty.
• White mulberry (Morus alba) comes from China. Its berries can be white, pink or purple and are sweet but milder in flavor. Its leaves are the main food of silkworms, the caterpillars that make silk.

Breeders have also crossed these species to create hybrid varieties, some of which look and taste quite different from their parents.

What Mulberry Trees Look Like

Mulberries grow quickly when young, then slow down as they get older. Most reach about 10 to 15 meters (30 to 50 feet) tall, while the black mulberry is usually smaller, often forming a wide, rounded tree with a short trunk.

Their leaves are toothed around the edges. On the same tree, some leaves may be simple and heart-shaped while others have deep lobes, a bit like mittens. The berries are actually clusters of many tiny fruits joined together, similar to a blackberry. They are usually about 2 to 3 cm (1 inch) long.

Where Mulberries Grow

Wild mulberries are found in warm temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Americas. Most species come from Asia. Today mulberries are planted in gardens, parks and farms in many countries.

White mulberry has spread far beyond its homeland. In parts of North America it grows wild and even crosses with the native red mulberry, which is a problem for the red mulberry’s survival in some areas.

Growing a Mulberry Tree

Soil

Mulberries grow best in deep, fertile soil that holds moisture but drains well. They prefer soil that is rich in organic matter, with a pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, roughly 6.0 to 7.5. Very shallow, stony or waterlogged soils are not a good choice.

A layer of mulch over the root area helps keep the soil moist and adds nutrients as it breaks down. In poorer soils, a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring can help.

Sunlight and Climate

Mulberry trees need plenty of sun, ideally at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. They will grow in some shade, but they produce less fruit.

The three main species handle cold differently:

• White mulberry is the toughest and handles cold winters best.
• Red mulberry is also fairly cold-hardy and grows well across much of the eastern United States.
• Black mulberry is the most tender. It needs warm summers and fairly mild winters to grow and fruit well.

Planting

Photo by: David Hawgood

Choose a sunny, open spot with room for the tree to spread. Dig a hole wider than the roots and about as deep. Set the young tree at the same depth it was growing before, fill in with soil, firm gently and water well. Keep the soil moist while the tree settles in, especially during its first summer.

Mulberries can be grown from seed, but seedlings may not be like the parent tree and can take many years to bear fruit. Many gardeners grow them from cuttings instead, which root easily, or buy grafted trees of a named variety. These usually start fruiting within a few years. Mulberries can also be grown in large pots for a number of years, as long as they are watered regularly.

Watering

Water young trees regularly so the soil does not dry out. Established mulberries are fairly drought-tolerant, but watering during long dry spells, especially while the fruit is forming, gives a better crop.

Care, Pruning and Problems

• Spread a few inches of mulch around the tree each spring, keeping it away from the trunk.
• Prune only when the tree is dormant in late autumn or winter. Mulberries bleed a lot of sap if cut in spring or summer.
• Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches and any shoots growing from the base. Keep pruning light, as heavy cutting is not needed.
• Long, low branches can bend or split under the weight of fruit. Support them with a forked prop padded with sacking.
• Watch for bacterial leaf spot and dieback. Cut off and destroy badly affected branches.
• Birds love mulberries. Netting small trees can save some fruit for you.

Harvesting and Storing the Berries

Most mulberries ripen in summer. In cooler places, black mulberries ripen later, often in late summer. The fruit ripens a little at a time over several weeks, so you can pick it again and again.

The easiest way to harvest is to spread a clean sheet or tarp under the branches and gently shake the tree. The ripe berries drop, while unripe ones stay on to ripen later. Only eat fully ripe berries. Unripe berries and the milky sap from leaves and stems can upset your stomach or irritate your skin.

Mulberry juice stains hands, clothes and pavements, so wear old clothes and gloves when picking. The berries are very soft and only keep for a few days in the fridge, but they freeze well for pies, smoothies and jam.

Mulberry FAQs