Bring life and sweetness to your garden with Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) — a resilient North American native tree that produces juicy, dark-purple to black fruits. Known for their sweet-tart flavor, these berries attract birds, pollinators, and beneficial wildlife while offering abundant harvests for you.
Red Mulberry trees are easy to grow, drought-tolerant once established, and thrive in a wide range of conditions. Their broad leaves and spreading canopy also make them excellent shade trees for landscapes or edible forest gardens.
Features
- 🌳 Native & Hardy: Adapted to North American climates; grows in USDA Zones 4–9.
- 🍇 Delicious Fruit: Produces sweet black mulberries loved by people and wildlife.
- 🌞 Low Maintenance: Tolerates drought, poor soil, and light shade.
- 🐦 Wildlife Friendly: Attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
- 🌱 Fast-Growing: Can reach maturity and fruit within a few years.
- ❄️ Cold Tolerant: Survives harsh winters and adapts to variable soil conditions.
Specifications
- Common Name: Red Mulberry
- Scientific Name: Morus rubra
- Plant Type: Deciduous tree or large shrub
- Zones: USDA 4–9
- Mature Height: 30–60 ft
- Spread: 35–50 ft
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained soil
- Soil pH: 5.5–7.5
- Watering: Moderate; drought-tolerant once mature
- Temperature Range: -25°F to 90°F (-32°C to 32°C)
- Bloom Time: Late spring
- Fruit Season: Summer
- Fruit Color: Deep purple to black
- Germination Time: 30–90 days
- Pollination: Self-pollinating (but better yield with multiple trees)
- GMO Status: 100% Non-GMO
- Uses: Fresh eating, drying, jams, jellies, wines, wildlife support
Planting Guide
- Stratify Seeds: Place seeds in damp sand inside a plastic bag and refrigerate for 60–90 days.
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Plant ¼ inch deep in moist, well-drained soil.
- Light: Provide full sunlight or partial shade.
- Temperature: Ideal germination range is 70–85°F (21–29°C).
- Transplant: Move young trees outdoors after frost danger passes.
- Spacing: 20–25 ft apart for orchard planting.
- Watering: Keep soil moist during establishment, then reduce frequency.
- Fertilization: Minimal; use balanced organic compost in spring.
Care Tips
- Prune lightly in winter to shape and remove weak branches.
- Mulch around base to conserve moisture and deter weeds.
- Protect young plants from deer and rodents.
- Harvest fruit as it ripens—mulberries drop easily when fully mature!