Black Mulberry
Morus nigra
Also known as
Common Mulberry, Persian Mulberry, Sycamine Tree, Mulberry
Morus nigra fruits by User:Haplochromis (CC BY 2.5)
Full Sun
Moderate care
Light watering
Frost Hardy
H7-H5
RHS hardiness
-20°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
12m | Max | 14m |
8m | Min | 8m |
20 years to reach maturity
Fruiting
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
Harvest fruit fresh daily as soon as the entire berries are a deep, all over colour and easily removed from the stalk. You could shake the tree and try to catch the berries in a net underneath! The fruit fall as soon as fully ripe, it is best, therefore, to grow the tree in short grass to cushion the fall of the fruit, but to still make it possible to easily find and harvest.
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Black Mulberry Overview
Morus nigra is typically grown for its refreshingly succulent, sweet and tangy dark red or purple fruits. Also known as the black mulberry tree, this species has played an important role in the culinary world for centuries, as an aesthetically beautiful edible tree. It is also important in medicinal applications, known for it health benefits, such as being high in antioxidants. In comparison to the red- or white mulberry tree that you might know, it is the smallest tree of the three and bears the largest, and according to some, the most delicious fruit.
Common problems with Black Mulberry
Cankers and dieback can occur.
How to propagate Black Mulberry
Cuttings
Cuttings of half-ripe wood and mature wood of the current season's growth grows easily. Bury the cuttings to threequarters of their depth and keep moist.
Seed
Sow outdoors in autumn-winter; spacing them 4-6 m apart, germination time - 1-3 months. Keep moist! In Europe, seed propagation works best with seeds that have been harvested from ripe fruits. These need to be washed to prevent mould and kept in the fridge for 2-3 months. Sow in spring in a propagator in a sunny location.
Special features of Black Mulberry
Repels harmful insects
Notably resistant to honey fungus.
Pot plant
Suitable for growing in containers outdoors.
Attractive fruits
Attracts birds
The ripe fruit is very attractive to various birds.
Crop rotation
Medium feeder
Other uses of Black Mulberry
Specimen and fruit
Culinary
Ripe fruits are used to make jams, jellies, and syrups. The leaves make a good vegetable, cooked or dried. The leaves are the preferred feedstock for silkworms and other livestock.
Medicinal
The leaves, bark and fruits are used in Chinese medicine for coughs, colds, diabetes and constipation. It is also used to treat snakebites, among other illnesses across the world. There is a long history of medicinal use in Chinese medicine and all parts of this plant are used in some way or another.
Multi Stemmed Trees
With a little formative work these trees can be trained into multi- stemmed specimens.
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