Mulberry
Morus
Botanical family: Moraceae
Three species: White mulberry (Morus alba), the one that feeds the silkworm in sericulture, sweet white-pink fruit; Black mulberry (Morus nigra), intensely fragrant black fruit; Red mulberry (Morus rubra), a North American species. Not to be confused with the bramble/blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), another family (Rosaceae vs Moraceae). Source: Couplan, Le régal végétal.
Full sun
Any soil
Moderate: water the young tree in dry spells; once established, only in prolonged drought
Depending on species: white mulberry (Morus alba) very hardy (~-25 to -30 °C); black mulberry (M. nigra) less hardy (~-15 °C)
Overwinters in your zone
Self-fertile
One plant is enough for a crop
Role in permaculture
A high layer (8-15 m), to be distinguished from the ornamental plane-leaved mulberry (fruitless). Long-lived (200-400 years). An excellent tree for feeding oneself AND the birds that feast on it. A very good tree for functional shade (loses its leaves in winter).
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Insects attracted or useful
Known pests & diseases
Pests and diseases that commonly affect this plant, tap to learn how to recognise and manage them.
Seasons & availability
Mulberries: August and September.
Available: August, September.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- RHS, « How to Grow Mulberries » (rhs.org.uk/fruit/mulberries/grow-your-own)
- Plants For A Future, « Morus nigra » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Morus+nigra)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
The fully ripe fruits are safe. The still-green fruits and the milky white sap of the tree can cause digestive upset and irritate the skin on contact: only pick the fruits that come away on their own.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Voices of peoples
Paraphrases attributed to their documented sources. Never an invented quote.
Ancient Chinese mythology (texts of the Shanhaijing, the Huainanzi, and the Chuci) · China, from the Warring States to the Han dynasty
Several ancient texts describe the Fusang (扶桑), a cosmic tree standing in the far east, where the sun rises; ten suns, figured as crows, are said to rest there in turn. The motif is attested first in the Shanhaijing, where the Fusang stands at the Valley of the Sun (Yanggu), where the ten suns bathe, then taken up in the Huainanzi and the Chuci. Its identification with the mulberry, based on the character sang (桑) present in its name, is old but debated: some readings see rather a hibiscus or a purely mythical tree. Likewise, the 'three-legged' attribute of the solar crow settles mainly in the imagery of the Han era, more than in each of the oldest texts.
Shanhaijing (Classique des monts et des mers), source première du motif ; repris dans le Huainanzi et les Chuci (« Élégies de Chu ») ; Wikipédia, articles « Fusang » et « Trees in Chinese mythology and cultural symbology ».
A mythological tale, not botanical data: the equation Fusang = mulberry rests on a philological hypothesis (the character 桑) and remains uncertain. The tale is presented here as a myth, without over-interpreting the link with the cultivated mulberry or crediting these texts with a naturalist intent. No health claim or virtue follows from it.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun exposure.
- • Ideal soil: any soil.