Black Fruited (white) Mulberry (Morus alba)
Black Fruited (white) Mulberry (Morus alba)
Why We Grow It
Why We Grow It
White Mulberries are a valuable addition to food forests and silvopasture systems, providing high yields of nutritious fruit for humans and livestock as well as highly palatable leaves making them a candidate for "tree hay". Their continuous fruiting reduces competition with wildlife, allowing shared harvests. The trees’ ability to grow in poor soils and resist drought makes them a reliable choice for challenging environments. In permaculture designs, they support biodiversity by creating habitat, improving soil health, and offering shade to understory plants.
How the Plant Grows
How the Plant Grows
White Mulberries grow rapidly, developing a rounded crown and extensive root systems that stabilize soil and enhance water retention. In spring, they produce small, greenish flowers, which are wind-pollinated and develop into clusters of fruit. The trees continuously ripen their berries throughout summer, ensuring a prolonged harvest period. They require minimal pruning and are resilient to pests and diseases, making them low-maintenance
Plant Size
Plant Size
Size at Maturity- Sub-Canopy. Grows to 30-50 feet tall with a similar spread
Current Size- -XL 3'+, 2 year old seedling
-Large 2'-3', 2 year old seedling
-Medium 1'-2', 2 year old seedling
Additional Info
Additional Info
White Mulberries have been cultivated for thousands of years, originally in China for silkworm production, as the leaves are their primary food source. Over time, the trees have spread globally due to their adaptability and valuable fruit. The berries are rich in vitamins C and K, iron, and antioxidants, making them a nutritious addition to the diet. They can be eaten fresh, dried, or processed into jams, syrups, or wines. White Mulberries are also vital for wildlife, providing food for birds and small mammals, while their fast growth and dense foliage make them an excellent windbreak or shade provider in agroforestry systems.
Mulberries are versatile and highly productive trees that offer a continuous bounty of fruit throughout the summer. Their sweet, juicy berries—ranging in color from red to black despite the name—are a treat for humans and a favorite forage crop for livestock such as chickens and pigs. With their rapid growth, adaptability, and nutritious fruit, White Mulberries are an excellent choice for silvopasture systems, food forests, and permaculture designs. The trees serve both ecological and practical functions, making them a cornerstone for integrated landscapes.
These mulberries are grown from locally gathered seeds in the interior of British Columbia and are well adapted to a cool temperate climate. Mulberry trees contain ranging fruit colors from white to red to dark purple. They can sometimes be as big as 50-60 feet tall, though 30 feet is a more typical mature height.
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Plant Highlights
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Water
Moderate water needs; drought-tolerant once established but benefits from consistent moisture during establishment and fruiting.
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Pollination
Mulberries are typically parthenocarpic meaning they can produce fruit without pollination. Sometimes trees are dioecious meaning there are distinct males that bear no fruit and females that do without the need for pollination. Though often enough trees can become dioecious meaning they have both male and female sexes on the same tree. Best to plant a few to make sure you get a fruiting tree.
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Soil
Prefers well-drained loamy soils, but is adaptable to a variety of soil types, including poor or compacted soils.
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Years to Bear
Produces fruit within 3-5 years of planting
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Hardiness
Zone 4, tolerating temperatures as low as -34°C
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Solar
Grows in full sun to partial shade, with full sun yielding the best fruit production.
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