Mulberry is one of a few fruit trees that we believe EVERYONE should have in their yard – no excuses! Famous for the nursery rhyme (yet still underrated), mulberry trees are essential in a Florida food forest, bringing life in a way that no other tree can. They’ll tolerate flooding, severe drought, freezing cold, hurricane-force wind, and all sorts of other abuse, and still produce a ton of sweet berries every year, like clockwork. A short way to describe the fruit is that they’re “like a blackberry that grows on a tree”, but perhaps a touch sweeter. If you have young children, plant a Mulberry tree and watch their faces and hands get stained purple from an afternoon of picking – instant childhood memories!
When planting your Mulberry, choose a location that has as much direct sunlight as possible. Mulberry trees go through a brief dormant period in late winter, defoliating and then quickly sprouting new leaves and fruit. They can be pruned heavily to keep the size manageable, but can become quite large with a broad, spreading canopy if left unmanaged. Mulberries naturally produce a large crop of fruit in springtime, but strategic pruning through the year can lead to multiple crops.
Mulberry fruit can be used in a plethora of ways. Eating fresh, ripe fruit off the tree is best, but you can also make Mulberry pie, jam, syrup, juice, and ice cream! Mulberries can be easily frozen and stored for later use. If you have your own special Mulberry recipe, we’d love to know - drop us an email so we can share it!
At Incredible Edible Landscapes, we’ve collected and are growing a dozen Mulberry varieties and counting. They are one of our most popular fruit trees by far (Mulberry easily earned its spot in our list of Top 6 Essential Fruit Trees for South Florida). Mulberry trees are cultivated and loved all across the world, being well adapted to many different climates. If you have room for only one tree in your yard, Mulberry is a strong contender for the spot!
Pro tip: To harvest lots of Mulberries quickly, take a bed sheet and lay it around the base of the tree. Then grab the trunk and shake vigorously! All the ripe fruit will fall, making collection super easy.
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Size: Can grow to be a large canopy, but easily pruned to about 12x12 (Our mulberries are spaced only 9 ft apart for an edible hedge)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Cold Hardy: 0 Degrees F or lower if dormant
Harvest Season: Spring/Summer
Watering requirements: Drought tolerant when established
