Mulberry
Morus species
Family: Moraceae
What it is like
Morus species is a deciduous Tree growing to 10 m (32ft 10in) at a medium rate. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 10
Where it is found
Not known in the wild.
A hybrid of garden origin, M. alba x M. rubra..
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 4
Fruit - raw. A very sweet flavour, it is considered to be one of the best mulberries. The fruit ripens over a long period. The fruit is large, individual fruits can weigh 350 grams, and very long.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 4
See individual species.
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
Prefers a warm well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position. This cultivar, a cross between the red and the white mulberry, is a very hardy and productive clone. Its young grafts are very vigorous. Mulberries have brittle roots and so need to be handled with care when planting them out. Any pruning should only be carried out in the winter when the plant is fully dormant because mulberries bleed badly when cut. Ideally prune only badly placed branches and dead wood. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a standard with a non-suckering single trunk.
Propagating it: The seed germinates best if it is given 2 - 3 months cold stratification. Sow February in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. This is a hybrid and will not breed true to type. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Plant out in spring. A good percentage take, though they sometimes fail to thrive. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 25 - 30cm with a heel of 2 year old wood, autumn or early spring in a cold frame or a shady bed outside. Bury the cuttings to threequarters of their depth. Layering in autumn.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist