Morus alba
| White mulberry (Morus alba) | |
|---|---|
| Morus alba fruit and leaves in Mexico. | |
| Scientific name | Morus alba [1] |
| Common names | White mulberry; common mulberry |
| Genus | Morus |
| Family | Moraceae |
| Order | Rosales |
| Origin | China |
| Habit | Deciduous tree |
| Mature size | Up to about 18 m |
| Fruit | Edible ripe fruit, up to about 25 mm in some descriptions |
Morus alba, the white mulberry or common mulberry, is a deciduous fruit tree associated with Chinese origin. It is a fast-growing tree with a shallow root system, and it tolerates full sun to partial shade, a range of well-drained soils, heat, and periods of drought. [2][3]
Description[edit | edit source]
White mulberry can develop into a tree of about 18 m, although final size depends on the site and plant. The species is deciduous and has a shallow root system. Its fruit is described as reaching about 25 mm in some accounts, but size and flavor vary among plants. [2][3]
The flowers are separate male and female flowers. Fruit is produced on female plants, and wind pollination is reported. [2][3]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
Use fertile, moist, well-drained soil where possible. White mulberry is reported from light, medium, and heavy well-drained soils and can tolerate both moist conditions and drought. The shallow root system makes consistent soil structure and drainage especially useful; avoid treating drought tolerance as a reason to keep the root zone permanently dry. [2][3]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Plant in full sun or partial shade. An open, well-drained position suits the reported light tolerance and helps a vigorous tree make use of its rapid growth. [2]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The tree is deciduous. Flowering is described around May in one account, while fruit maturation is placed around June; another account describes seed ripening in July and August. Treat these as climate- and plant-dependent seasonal indications rather than fixed harvest dates. [2][3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Seed, cuttings, and layering are listed propagation routes for white mulberry. Keep the seedling or cutting identified to the parent plant when fruit quality matters, because a propagation method alone does not preserve a named selection. [2][3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Male and female flowers are separate, and fruit production is associated with female plants. Wind pollination is reported. A fruiting plant therefore needs appropriate flowering and pollination conditions; a calendar date alone cannot guarantee a crop. [2][3]
The fruit is described as edible when ripe. June fruit maturation, May flowering, and July–August seed ripening are reported seasonal guides rather than universal dates. [2][3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
Ripe white mulberries are edible. Raw fruit may be sweet or comparatively insipid, while drying can give it a richer flavor. Fruit quality varies among plants, so a named cultivar or selected tree should not be assumed from the common name alone. [2][3]
Eat only ripe fruit. Unripe berries and the plant's milky sap carry low-severity toxicity cautions in the horticultural guidance, so avoid treating unripe fruit or sap as food. [2]
Dropped fruit can stain surfaces, and seedlings may become weedy in some regions. Those management concerns are regional and do not establish a universal invasive status. [2]
Photos[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Morus alba - fruit and leaves.jpg — subject: Morus alba fruit and leaves in Mexico; creator: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata; CC BY-SA 4.0; individual file page. Attribution, license link, and share-alike requirements apply.
- Morus alba-leaves.jpg — subject: Morus alba leaf forms; creator: Jaknouse; CC BY 3.0; individual file page. Attribution and license link are required.
