OT - Mulberry Trees - Good Ones, Bad Ones and What Are You Growing?

**ross** · 03-01-2016, 02:48 PM

I just bought a Shangri La from EL. It's native to Florida, so I hope it does well here in PA. Planning on keeping it in a pot and shuffling it with the figs.

**DonCentralTexas** · 03-01-2016, 02:53 PM

Jerry,

Even though we have different soils we virtually share the same amount of rainfall and heat here in central Texas. I find Mulberries easy to grow, I'll give you a synopsis of my experiences with them.

My first was Willis Orchards Persian, which of course I thought was the real Persian, long story short and 3 years later it is not Morus nigra. They propagate easily, and I have 4 in ground, after all I thought they were M. nigra. I keep them short and more open vase like at about 9-10 feet tall. They make beautiful berries that I got last year that are good but not wow. Hopefully the taste will mature as the tree does. These have not broken bud yet.

My second which is now going on it's 3rd year is a Pakistani. I keep it at 12 feet by summer pruning. Beautiful tree, very large heart shaped leaves, and long berries that are sweet, good, non staining but little to no acidity. It is also very easy to propagate and I now have many scattered about, very fast grower. It is well along in budding. One thing to note, this tree froze to the ground first year of planting, and I think it is not quite as winter hardy as the rest. But since your in my zone, I think you would be ok with extra protection for the first few years.

Last year I got cuttings off Ebay for Shangri-la, and a Florida unknown. Both rooted and grew easily. This year several are 6-7 feet high, but most are 4-5, i should have watered more because I planted them late. As of today, both of these types have broken bud and have berries, I haven't tasted them yet.

This year I planted Morus nigra, because thats what i wanted from the start 3 years ago, a Persian, Black Beauty and Noire de Spain they are slowly breaking bud now. I haven't tasted these yet either.

I just so happen to have small Pakistani in a 4 gallon pot i could send you for shipping, or I will be trimming most of these in summer to keep fruit easy to get and I can send you some cuttings, so far all but the M. nigras have been easy to root...easier than most figs for sure. As a side note my goats, rabbits, chickens love the leaves.

**strudeldog** · 03-01-2016, 05:01 PM

I just commenetd on a mulberry thread couple days ago so reposting here

I grow Several Mulberry cultivars. A Good mulberry is one of my favorite flavors. A great balance of sweet and tart. I don’t care for ones that are Sweet only. Morus Nigra species are pretty much accepted as the best, Many folks and some nurseries incorrectly state Nigra only based on fruit color. The problem with Nigra is that it doesn’t grow well in many areas including mine. The Humidity in the southeast doesn’t agree with it. I still have a small Nigra Black Beauty alive but it’s smaller than when I initially planted it. I lost a couple other Nigra prior. I have lost 2 Pakistan to cold here in zone 7b. It’s a large fruit and taste is nice but there are others I prefer, but I will likely try to plant or graft it again.

On propagation some cultivar cuttings seem to root fairly readily and others are very difficult or it seems at least for me. Most I found most graft pretty easy but I a couple I obtained failed. I think there are some graft issues between species and you will see some conflicting info on how many species exist and what species some mulberry are.

**Jamie0507** · 03-01-2016, 05:52 PM

So funny that this thread came up about Mulberry trees. Ya see I live in this new development that had not a single tree on it anywhere.. Except one! It is a great giant mulberry tree that I discovered while taking my dobe out for a walk last summer. I had never seen or really heard of Mulberry's before this but when I saw this tree I was in awe! At first I thought.. Am I suffering heatstroke?? This beautiful tree had the LARGEST BLACKBERRIES I've ever seen! Lol but thought better of it when I looked to my right and saw the blackberry thicket not far from it & remembered they do not grow on trees.. So I googled it naturally & discovered I had found a bonafide wild mulberry tree.. Gathered some fruit, went home to try it, and then hit that tree up for the rest of the summer! Lol! Wish I still had pics of the fruit to show you all but I had to delete.. Not enough space on my stinking iphone.. Knew I should got the 64G lol

**ers8891** · 03-01-2016, 07:51 PM

I have a few mulberry trees on my farm. my mulberries start out green, then red, then they turn a black color. they are very flavorful when they turn black, but very tart if you pick when they are still red. I dig up sprouts from my uncles farm and plant them at my place. His most mature mulberry tree is about 30 ft tall.

**LouNeo** · 03-01-2016, 10:57 PM

I dont have a mulberry yet but growing up there was one at my aunts house that I assume came from Greece. The berries would start out green, then I believe they got a shade of pink and then white if I remember correctly. They were very sweet and I hope to figure out what they were or else I will find a way to get some cuttings next time im up there to graft or whatever I have to do. Any thoughts on variety would be appreciated

**strudeldog** · 03-02-2016, 09:38 AM

I spent half my youth up in mulberry trees, I assume they were Rubra but could have been Alba or Hybrid between the 2. Rubra is the only mulberry native to U.S, but Alba is widely naturalized and pest tree and invasive in areas. I have never really tasted what I thought was a bad Rubra, but it is a larger grower. Alba seem more variable some being bland others very nice.

Illinois Everbearing is probably the most planted cultivar. It doesn't seem to fruit heavy in my area, but has a few fruit over a long period of time. Aggressive grower and the fruit will be out of reach unless you really prune heavy and likely more than once a year. It's supposedly a rubraXalba cross I like the taste a good grazers tree. I gon't grow Silk Hope but supposed to be similar and more productive in Southeast, but the person I know growing it has been disappointed. I have only gotten a few I.E. to root after many attempts. Many times I get some minimal roots then they die. Shangri La, Middleton, Kokuso No. 20 I have had better luck rooting. The tree I really like is Girardi dwarf spelled couple different ways been very productive with nice decent fruit. A true compact dwarf with fruit in reach. I never even got it to attempt to root however. But for those that want to grow a smaller bush like tree that many Nigra have but can't because of climate I recommend it. growing few others as well.
One good source for mulberry is Lucille at Whitman farms if you want an established tree

Mulberries | Whitman Farms

http://www.whitmanfarms.com/category/allplants/edible-plants/mulberries/

**Altadena Mara** · 03-02-2016, 11:01 AM

I grow a number of mulberry trees. My all time favorite has been a Black Persian mulberry (morus niger) for around thirty-five years. The mulberries were big juicy and black when ripe with a delicious rich blend of sweetness, complexity and acid. You have to wait until they’re fully black for their superb taste. The birds and ants like them too, but there is enough for all. It blew over a few years back and stopped producing even when I propped it up again. I’ve added another BP tree but found out they need a few hundred chill hours in the winter, which, alas, we don’t have any more here. I don’t know if either tree will ever produce again. I also have two Black Beauty (morus niger) mulberry trees. They stay small and bush-like, around four plus feet so far in my yard, and have a similar flavor to the Black Persian. However, the berries on my tree were smaller than on the Black Persian and dryer. They also only produced a few berries each year over the past few years in spite of being large bushes and might also be affected by climate change.
Both my Pakistan Mulberries (Morus alba), one from Dave Wilson’s Nursery and the one a Pakistan Cooke’s Selection, are long, sweet, bland tasting and somewhat dryer compared to the morus niger. They ripen even before the cherries and lack any acid or rich flavor when compared to the Black Persian. There isn’t much difference in flavor from the red stage to the black. They have the mouth feel of a caterpillar. Both will give a second crop in the fall here in SoCal.
My Mulberry Australia from Top Tropics is similar to both of the Pakistans in taste and form but stays green when ripe so doesn't stain. I have it in a 15 gallon pot and it hasn’t been that productive yet, only a few berries each year.
My young Shangri-La and Kokusa mulberries have produced two or three fruit on them for the few years I’ve had them but the taste was dry and unremarkable compared to to the Black Persian. The Kokusa tree has hardly grown at all but the Shangri-La doubled its size last year and has a good crop of new berries developing on it this year.
When I was a child, my grandfather had a large mulberry tree in his back yard. We would go there for Sunday dinner which was always delayed while all the women caught up on the gossip. The hungry grandchildren all learned how to climb and pick mulberries.

**jmaler** · 03-06-2016, 03:37 PM

Just got my first mulberry tree in the ground, a Pakistani. Thanks Don.

Anyone have experience with the weeping mulberry?

**AscPete** · 03-06-2016, 09:30 PM

I've been growing Russian Mulberry trees (Morus Alba) from, http://www.coldstreamfarm.net/russia...orus-alba.html for a few years, due to my colder zone (5 - 6) there are few cultivar options available.

Last spring there was no dieback and the trees produced mulberries from late spring thru mid summer, which was a surprise. My Illinois Everbearing died the previous winter from the polar vortexes...

**jmaler** · 03-07-2016, 12:38 PM

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. It has been very educational for me.

**Taverna78** · 03-07-2016, 06:13 PM

If these can be rooted or grafted my neighbor has msyne 50ft tall tree he is taking down tis spring because is damage his home. I can get 100's of cuttings at least.

**Admin IT** · 03-08-2016, 01:21 AM

When I purchased this property 40 years ago my neighbor had a giant mulberry tree in his yard, was a GIANT. 20' tall and as wide. He had to prop up the limbs. They were so heavy with wood and fruit several ended up breaking. He told me it was wild and growing in the yard when he purchased his property, which was 30 years before me. The trunk was 3' in diameter and separated above into 3 main growing verticals that were 1.5' wide. He had a swing hanging off of one of the large limbs for his 6 children. He is gone and so is the tree. The property sold and the new owner cut the tree down along with several other very old trees.

"If I would have know then, what I know now!"

The berries were large dark, sweet and delicious. All the neighborhood children raided the tree until there were so many bees eating the berries on the ground that it was unsafe to walk under the tree.

I have several wild white mulberry trees that are not as prolific as the neighbor's dark berry tree, but they bring on a lot of fruit for my family and the local birds, bees and other visitors. I wonder what type they are. Any ideas about a wild white mulberry in Pennsylvania. IT is more bush like and now is 10' tall and 4-5 feet wide. After reading these posts, i think Ill prune it and take some air-layers. I'm going to take a good look around to see if maybe there is a black mulberry hiding somewhere close. Wish me luck.

Thanks for the interesting OT posting, maybe we should petition wills to create a mulberry forum. There seems to be a nice interest base for such a forum!

Best always,

**Inkfin** · 03-09-2016, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by jmaler View Post

The bug just bit. I want a mulberry tree for south central Texas. I know they can be messy but I am going to do it just the same.

I would like a variety that is good for eating fresh and one that makes good jelly.

I would like to here about your experiences with growing mulberry trees.

Jmaler,
Less than two years ago, I planted a dwarf variety (Morus nigra) in a small container (later transplanted in a 25 gallon container). It grew very well in Texas 8B zone, it is about 10-12' tall now. This year the plant is bearing fruits. I have yet to test the taste to recommend if they are good for eating fresh and for making jelly.

I will report you the results as the berries start ripening.

**jmaler** · 03-09-2016, 11:15 AM

Wow Inkfin, that thing really grew. Be sure to keep us posted.

**lilfiggy** · 03-09-2016, 07:54 PM

i had a beautiful mulberry tree starting last year. quickly grew to 3 feet and begain to put out side limbs. One morning I went outside on my screen pool enclosure and looked in my backyard and saw mamma deer finishing stripping my tree of leaves. Egad I ran out side and screamed and ran at the deer. She pooped, ran away and jumped the fence to where here two babies were waiting and trotted off down the back. It put a few leaves back on and looked pretty good again. same thing. Sprayed the tree with tobasco and it put a few leaves out but never really took off. will see how it does this year.

**Blake** · 01-23-2018, 12:13 PM

Bumping this thread up... I'm thinking of going the M. nigra route - Noir de Spain and/or King James - I'm curious if anyone is growing the Shangri-La hybrid on EL? It's likely I'll get few different cultivars, grow them for a bit, and decide which one to put in the ground. Any thoughts or words or wisdom from those growing them (especially those of you in Texas or the southwest since I'm in Dallas) is appreciated.

Note: I wrongly thought this thread was in the other fruits forum but here it is in the fig forum - can it be moved? Sorry about that.

**AndyG** · 01-23-2018, 12:23 PM

We have some kind of white mulberry tree that came with our property. Maybe 20 years old or so? Fruit ripens white to maroon. Very sweet when ripe, very low acidity. Darker, more acid balanced varietals sound better. But, ours is perched over our front walkway & sidewalk and is quite a mess as it is!

**ramv** · 01-23-2018, 12:47 PM

My area is supposed to be very good for growing the real Morus Nigra. Are there varieties that I can grow in a pot and get a lot of fruit from? I’ve no more land

What are the differences between Noir de Spain, Black Beauty and Persian?

**YATAMA** · 01-23-2018, 03:11 PM

Having grown many varieties here in NC and OR too.I've concluded best is Illinois everbearing because:
Large fruit
long bearing ,others produce a couple weeks and then zero
healthy,takes 8F here in stride, heat too.
attractive tree
fruit has balanced sugar/acid perfect for fresh eating,drying,pies, jam, jelly etc,many others lack this flavor balance, either too sour.too sweet,not rich flavor
I have also: Silk Hope small fruit,not great flavor
ShangriLa too sensitive to cold.
Pakistan black long fruit but not long on flavor, mine takes cold fine
Oscars slow to fruit
wild M.rubra massive quantity of fruit thats dry and flavorless
M.nigra from hidden Springs nursery..small tree takes our Z8A cold ok.fruit has best flavor of any mulberry have tasted but fruit must be PULLED or CUT off tree as is firmly attached unlike others this causes squish and juice allover you all fruit ripens over short time, not as many fruit as Illinois everbearing of similar size.also tree grows slower remains semi dwarf

Complaints about Illinois everbearing growing too large are strange.Nobody complains about needing to prune a peach or apple tree.A vigorous tree gvies more fruit, Besides not necessary to climb a big mulberry tree to get fruit any size mulberry (exceptM.nigra) one can place plastic sheet under tree and shake trunk or individual limbs and any fruit really ripe fall off, easiest fruit to gather! Also takes severe pruning if that's your style, but unlike apple.etc. bears perfectly if never pruned.

**Rewton** · 01-23-2018, 03:27 PM

I originally had planned on planting a Shangri-La on my property but was advised that it would be marginal at best in our zone 7a winters. So I opted for Illinois Everbearing which I got from Raintree. Glad to hear enthusiasm for this variety from others. I might try grafting Shangri-La or another cold sensitive type onto a branch to see how it does. Mine hasn't fruited yet but maybe this year it will.

**Nick Costanza** · 01-23-2018, 04:56 PM

i have Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry mours nigra from Wellsprings garden nursery. I have had it for about 4 years now and it does stay small. Fruits are on the small size Here in South Louisiana they fruit mainly in april. My grandkids love them. They eat them fast as i can pick for them

**chadspur** · 01-23-2018, 06:48 PM

I've ordered a red Pakistan mulberry and a white Pakistan mulberry. Not from Just Fruits and Exotics, just linking to the varieties. This area(east of Dallas, Texas) hit 6 degrees at a weather station just down the road a few weeks ago(9 degrees for sure in my backyard). That would kill them both without protection. I'm debating using a large 30-40 gallon pot with side holes, partially buried. The side holes would allow the tree to stretch out some roots for nutrients and water in the surrounding soil. I could dig the trees up, chop them at the roots when it goes dormant, and store them in the garage without worry if I go the pot method. I've heard some good reviews, so I'm surprised to hear bland as describing the flavor from above posters.

**arachyd** · 01-23-2018, 07:13 PM

I never noticed this thread and don't know much about mulberry trees but we have native mulberry everywhere in southern NJ. I have a couple in my yard that had actually been firewood that started to root while waiting to be split. You almost can't fail with it here. I don't care much for the taste of them but I wonder if one of the more popular varieties would be a successful graft on the native kind.

OT - Mulberry Trees - Good Ones, Bad Ones and What Are You Growing?

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