Mulberry Tree - Black Mulberry (Morus nigra)

Mulberry Tree - Black Mulberry (Morus nigra)

A beautiful specimen tree, whose fruit will make jam or wine. It was all the rage in Tudor times, and trees from those days lasted hundreds of years. Shakespeare was said to have planted one in his back garden. Do you see the fruit for sale now? Black Mulberries were imported into Britain by James I in vast numbers in the 17th century from Persia in the mistaken belief they might help raise silkworms. You actually need White Mulberries, Morus alba.

The photos are from Greece, where aggressively pruned Black mulberries are used as street trees. Their distinctive large lobed leaves give dense shade.

Morus nigra do best on deep heavy soil, on a site which is in full sun or semi-shade. Self fertile, they grow to around 10m, with a similar spread. Black mulberries take a while to bear fruit, but when they do they are heavy croppers.

Supplied as pot grown bushes (see photo), which is their natural form, in a 3L pot, 40-60cm tall.

Supplier: R.V. Roger Ltd.