Morus Alba Tree White Mulberry

Morus Alba Tree - White Mulberry

The Morus Alba tree, also known as the white mulberry tree, is an attractive specimen with edible fruit and an undeserved reputation for a short life span. A white mulberry tree will happily thrive in a garden for over fifty years when cared for.  A white mulberry tree is slender and upright with an open canopy. It will grow rapidly to about 10 - 15m in height. Its smooth leaves are large and range from oval with a zig-zag edging to three lobed fans. These leaves appear late, often delaying their arrival until the warmer weather of May. 

Pollinator attracting flowers appear during summer and ripen into mulberry fruits which resemble white raspberries. They become fully ripe at the end of August into September. The fruits of a white mulberry tree are slightly sharper than black mulberries making them excellent for jams and preserves. Alternatively they are a good food source for wild birds. 

Morus Alba Tree Hardiness Levels
Morus alba trees are tolerant of many soils and will survive cold temperatures if kept sheltered from strong winds. Young plants benefit from frost protection. Waterlogged ground and very shady areas will not produce fruit of useable quality - a white mulberry tree needs a sunny position, moist position to thrive.

How To Use Morus Alba Tree
Morus alba trees are best grown as specimen trees in the garden. They can be grown as small trees in containers too if given enough food and water. A popular use of the mulberry tree is to espalier them against a sunny wall or keep them pruned as a fruit-producing bush.
The morus alba tree develops an attractive gnarled trunk which provides winter interest. It’s a good atmospheric choice for hanging wintertime solar lights.

How To Care For Your Morus Alba Tree
Mulberries are best grown in moisture-retentive soils that are well drained. To improve the chances of a good harvest you should load garden soil with organic matter before planting. Staking young plants will help them in windy areas. It’s a good idea to feed your mulberry tree with a good quality mulch or liquid fertiliser each year to encourage flowers and fruit.  You can prune a mulberry tree in the winter months. Any earlier and you risk sap bleeding and introducing an infection. During the winter you should remove broken or rubbing branches to create an open canopy that allows sunlight and breeze to circulate.  As a mulberry tree ages the branches can hang low to the ground. Support them with a stake, resting the low hanging branches on a cushioned part. This hanging habit is extremely attractive and is much desired by landscape gardeners.