Image - Wikimedia / Marija Gajić
La Mulberry it is a tree that is often planted on the streets, avenues and even in parks. There are so many that we might think that there are too many. So why have one in the garden? Wouldn't it be better to have a different tree? The answer is no. Well, it depends 🙂. In fact, if you are looking for a resistant plant that provides shade, this will undoubtedly be one of your best options.
It is a plant that can grow in many types of soils, also in calcareous ones that tend to compact. What's more, its cultivation and maintenance is very simple, as I am going to explain to you below.
Mulberry main characteristics
Mulberry is a deciduous tree belonging to the genus Morus, which is made up of about 10-16 species native to Asia, Africa and North America. They grow to a height of 15 meters, with fruits that are very reminiscent of blackberries, but that are white, red or black.. They have large, green leaves with the main and secondary veins very visible, alternate, simple and sometimes lobed.
Its flowers appear grouped in inflorescences in the form of very dense spikes, which, if all goes well, will be pollinated. From then on, the fruit will begin to develop, which is the blackberry.
Main species
The best known are:
Morus alba
Image - Wikimedia / gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, UK
It is a deciduous species known as mulberry or white mulberry native to central and eastern Asia. It can reach a height of 15 meters, with petiolate leaves 4 to 6 in length and 4 to 5 centimeters wide, ovate in shape and light green in color. It flowers in spring (April in the northern hemisphere) and its fruits ripen a month later, acquiring a white color.
As a curiosity, say that its leaves are the main food of silkworms.
Morus alba 'Fruitless'
It is a variety of white mulberry that does not produce fruit. Reaches between 12 and 15 meters, and has an ovate or rounded crown.
It is widely used to decorate streets and gardens.
morus nigra
Image - Wikimedia / mauro halpern
La black mulberry or black moral is a deciduous tree native to Southwest Asia, which reaches a height of 10 to 13 meters. The leaves are larger than those of Morus alba, measuring 10 to 20 centimeters in length by 6 to 10 centimeters in width. The fruits are small grouped drupes, red at first and blackish when ripe. It blooms in spring.
morus kagayamae
Image - Wikimedia / Omegorge
La morus kagayamae is a type of deciduous mulberry native to Southeast Asia that reaches a height of 10-15 meters. Its crown is more or less rounded, formed by alternate and palmate green leaves. It blooms in spring, and produces fruits grouped in scarlet-red pedunculated infrutescences when ripening.
Mulberry care
Mulberry is a plant that needs these care:
Location
Mulberry, regardless of the variety, must be abroad, full sun. In addition, it is important that, if you want to have it in the garden, it is planted at a distance of at least 6-7 meters from pipes, paved floors, etc.
Its root system is superficial but strong, so this must be taken into account to avoid problems.
Irrigation
Irrigation must be regular. As usual, It will be watered 2-3 times a week in summer, and every 7-9 days the rest of the year. But in hot and very dry areas it may be necessary to water more.
When in doubt, check the soil's moisture, either with a digital meter or by digging around.
Earth
- Garden: grows in all types of soils, except acid ones.
- Flower pot: fill with universal growing medium, mulch or compost.
Pruning
Can be pruned in late winter with suitable pruning tools, such as the saw for thick branches of more than 3 centimeters and the pruning shears for those of 1 centimeter or something more. Of course, remember to disinfect them before and after use to avoid the proliferation of diseases.
Anyway, you should know that it is better not to do it, since over the years it will weaken.
Pests
It is affected by aphids in summer, but it is not serious. They are treated anyway with any systemic insecticide.
Multiplication
Mulberry multiplies by seeds in spring and autumn, semi-woody cuttings in spring, and cultivars such as Fruitless by graft in spring-summer.
Planting or transplanting time
In spring It is a good time to plant it in the garden, as well as to move it to a larger pot if you see that the roots are coming out of the drainage holes or if it has been in the same container for more than three years.
Rusticity
It resists without difficulty frosts of up to -15ºC. It can live in hot climates, but in winter the temperature has to drop below 0 degrees at some point.
What uses is given to mulberry?
Image - Wikimedia / Free.serpico
It has several uses:
Ornamental
It is a very decorative plant, ideal for shading streets and gardens. In addition, it can be grown for many years in a pot. It is also sometimes worked as bonsai, but it is complicated by the size of the leaf (too large).
Culinary
The fruits are edible, used for make juices and jams. As if that were not enough, they are diuretics.
Wood
It is used for make tool handles, as well as in cabinetmaking, carting and tolerance.
Where to buy?
You can buy mulberry from here.
Rustic, resistant, easy to maintain ... What more could you ask for? 😉
Hola!
Can a Mora alba pendúla be transplanted in a place where there used to be a palm tree? He would have to tear off the remaining trunk of the palm tree to replace it with the mulberry. The mulberry tree must be about 30 years old.
Thank you!!
Hi Lydia.
Yes, you can, no problem.
Yes, if you can get what was left of the palm tree better, at least so that you can plant the mulberry tree well. This is a tree that has strong roots, so it would not be difficult for it to anchor itself well in the ground even if there was some remnant of the palm tree.
A greeting.
The roots can damage the walls of the pool, as I have one from the neighbor near my pool.
Hello Immaculate.
Unfortunately yes. Mulberry is a tree that has very strong roots.
A greeting.
Hello !!
I have a couple of mulberry trees and my question is is there any way to stop them bearing fruit? I have them right in front of the entrance of the house and everything gets lost.
Hello rosa.
I'm not sorry. 🙁
The only thing you could do is replace them with a fruitless mulberry, the Morus alba 'Fruitless'.
A greeting.
Hello, I had a blackberry of more than 25 years and I had to cut. The roots damaged water pipes and raised the sidewalk. They do not let out the grass and other plants around them.
I would like to know which one to replace. Thanks
Hello Cathaleen.
I recommend you read this article.
A greeting.
Hello, thanks for your help with your blog. I have had two mulberry trees for 17 years it is identical to the one in the photo you have with the white fruits, I have never pruned it and the branches are almost reaching the ground, they are more than 9 meters high and a crown of more than 6 meters, they are precious they have me in love, I lost.
My question was how to take cuttings, because I have tried several times and I have not been successful and I want to populate the rest of my plot with about 8 more mulberry trees. regards
Hello Manuel.
To take mulberry cuttings you have to wait until the end of winter. A branch about 40cm long is cut, the base is impregnated with rooting hormones and then planted in a pot in semi-shade.
This way it should root after a short time, 1 month or 2 maximum. Of course, you have to keep the soil moist (but not flooded).
Let's see if you have more luck now.
A greeting.
Hello, thank you very much for all the information, I have a question, I see that the tree cannot be planted near walls or floors, I have a mulberry but in a bush, not in a tree, could it be planted in a flowerbed? Thanks for everything!!
Hi luciano.
If it is kept as a shrub or small tree, its roots will not need as much space, so they are less likely to cause problems. However, it is better to be safe than to have to cut down or extract the plant later, so we do not recommend planting a mulberry tree near pipes or others, even if it is a ground floor.
Greetings.
Hello, my black morality this year has not given blackberries, it is only 15 years old, why has it not given blackberries?
Hello Maria Jose.
You may have been thirsty, or you may need extra food, ie compost. Do you usually pay it? Dry chicken manure, guano, compost can be very useful.
Regards!