Mulberry - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Morus macroura, or King White Mulberry, is a deciduous plant native to Tibet, Himalayas, and Indochina that can be used for bonsai. It is a small tree that typically reaches a height of 10-20 ft available in full sun or partial shade, and requires regular to moderate water. Not only is it an ethnomedical plant, but it is also edible. It is best grown in USDA hardiness zones 7 -10.

The King White Mulberry bears fruits, which vary in color from yellowish-white to almost black. The fruits can be up to 3-4 inches long and contain numerous small, yellowish drupelets that hold the sweet, edible pulp. Not only are the fruits edible, they are also very healthy. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which can help support an overall healthy lifestyle. The juice of the bark is also used for medicinal purposes and applied to cuts and wounds.

King White Mulberry tree is a fruitful tree that can produce several hundred pounds of fruit each year. If the tree is grown in a pot in cold regions, it will need to be moved indoors during the winter and then back outdoors once temperatures warm up. This can be done with proper preparation and care, including careful watering, proper soil, and pruning to keep the size of the tree manageable. It is important to also prune off any dead or dying branches as well as any overly vigorous growth. All of these elements will help create a strong, healthy tree with an abundant yearly crop.

Morus, commonly known as Mulberry, is a genus of deciduous or occasionally evergreen trees and shrubs in the Moraceae family, native to temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The leaves are alternate, usually serrated, and remarkably variable in shape, even on the same tree, ranging from unlobed to deeply lobed. Small, inconspicuous flowers are borne in catkin-like clusters, with male and female flowers occurring on the same or separate plants, depending on the species. The familiar mulberry fruit is actually a multiple fruit formed from an entire female inflorescence, becoming fleshy as it matures. Important species include Morus alba (White Mulberry), traditionally cultivated for silkworm feeding, M. nigra (Black Mulberry), prized for its richly flavored fruits, and M. rubra (Red Mulberry), native to eastern North America.

Morus species generally grow best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, although many tolerate poorer soils and seasonal drought once established. Many commonly cultivated mulberries are fast-growing trees that respond well to pruning, and selected dwarf or weeping forms are suitable for smaller gardens or large containers. Fruit colors range from white and pink to red and nearly black, depending on species and cultivar; the names White, Red, and Black Mulberry do not reliably indicate fruit color. Cold hardiness varies considerably: commonly cultivated temperate species generally grow in USDA Zones 4-9, while some subtropical species require warmer conditions. Ripe fruits are edible fresh or processed into jams and desserts, but fallen berries can stain paving and attract wildlife.

Morus 'Tice' is a productive mulberry cultivar selected in Florida and valued for its vigorous growth and reliable crops. It produces large, sweet dark berries with a rich flavor and is widely grown in warm climates for fresh eating.

Morus 'Australian Green' is a rare mulberry cultivar believed to originate from Australia and often associated with long-fruited Asian mulberries. It produces unusually long, very sweet berries, and some growers note that the flavor can resemble honeydew melon.

Morus 'Illinois Everbearing' is a well known mulberry cultivar resulting from a cross between white mulberry (Morus alba) and red mulberry (Morus rubra), combining the hardiness and adaptability of one with the rich fruit flavor of the other. The tree grows vigorously and forms a broad crown that can reach about 20 to 30 ft when mature. Its foliage is also ornamental, with deeply lobed leaves often reminiscent of oak. Some young trees may begin producing fruit very early.

One of the defining features of this cultivar is its long, extended fruiting season. Berries about 1.5 inches long ripen gradually from mid summer into early fall rather than all at once. The fruits are sweet, juicy, and slightly tangy, often regarded among the best tasting mulberries. Trees are hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 10, tolerating temperatures down to about -20F while also performing well in summer heat and relatively poor soils. The cultivar is generally easy to grow, low maintenance, and capable of producing abundant crops once established.

Broussonetia papyrifera, commonly known as paper mulberry, is a deciduous tree or large shrub in the Moraceae family, native to eastern Asia and widely introduced throughout warm temperate and tropical regions. It typically grows 20-40 ft tall and has rough, hairy leaves that are extremely variable in shape, even on the same plant, ranging from unlobed and broadly ovate to deeply three- or five-lobed. Plants are usually dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers occur in elongated catkins, while female flowers form rounded heads that develop into orange-red, ball-shaped multiple fruits. The inner bark has been used for centuries in Asia and the Pacific for making paper and traditional bark cloth.

Broussonetia papyrifera grows readily in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soils, drought, heat, and urban conditions once established. It grows rapidly and spreads by seeds and vigorous root suckers, sometimes forming dense colonies. Because it can become invasive outside its native range, its behavior should be considered before planting. The tree is useful where a fast-growing screen or informal specimen is appropriate, but suckering may require control. It is generally hardy in USDA Zones 6-10.

Dwarf Mulberry is an informal horticultural category encompassing compact and naturally dwarf cultivars of Morus (Mulberry), in the Moraceae family, rather than a separate botanical species. Unlike ordinary mulberry trees, which may grow quite large, dwarf selections typically develop into low, bushy shrubs or small trees, often reaching approximately 3 10 feet, depending on the cultivar. Their compact growth makes them particularly suitable for small gardens, patios, and container cultivation. Many fruiting selections produce sweet, edible berries, sometimes beginning to bear fruit at an unusually young age.

Notable examples include Morus 'Matsunaga', a naturally compact cultivar reaching about 5-8 feet and marketed as Charlotte Russe or Mojo Berry; Morus alba 'Fegyvernekiana', a dwarf, mound-forming shrub usually remaining below five feet; and Morus alba 'Issai', valued for its compact habit and early fruiting. Cold hardiness varies considerably among cultivars, so no single USDA zone range applies to the entire category. For example, 'Matsunaga' is commonly recommended for USDA Zones 7-10.