Mulberry (Morus spp.)
Full sun to light shade. Zones 4-8.
Widely adapted to most soils.
Mulberry can either be grown as a medium shade tree, as a small tree (with annual pruning) or as a coppiced multi-stemmed large shrub for easy picking. It flowers and fruits on new growth, thus escaping spring frosts. The purple-black fruit is shaped somewhat like a blackberry, but longer and can ripen through most of the summer.
Depending on pruning regimen, mulberry can be grown as a shade tree, a small tree, or a multi-stemmed large shrub. Its relatively coarse foliage is best used on the edge in shrub borders, screening trees, or in lawns. Keep these trees away from parked autos, decks, and paved surfaces such as walks, drives, and patios as the falling fruit or purple poop from feasting birds will stain.
Mulberries are slender, juicy, sweet and delicious purple-black fruit with high phytonutritional and antioxidant content due to their abundant anthocyanins. They are quite delightful to eat fresh on a hot summer day or gather up and make into a sweet and refreshing juice. They also may be dried, fermented into mead or wine, or processed into fresh baked goods.
Varieties:
‘Illinois Everbearing’ – The standard for fruiting mulberries. – unavailable
White Mulberry – unavailable.
Russian – 10 Available
Variable Pricing.