Types of Mulberries

The mulberry closely resembles a blackberry in taste and shape.

Mulberry trees thrive in warmer climates around the world and produce a sugary to tangy blackberry-type of fruit. Versatile in landscaping, it is fast-growing tree when young, but grows slower as it matures. The smallest mulberry reaches 8 feet tall while the largest grows to about 70 feet high. Colorful and attractive when in bloom, mulberries are a favorite fruit used to make jams, syrups, sauces and wines or enjoyed eaten raw.

White Mulberry

Able to tolerate drought and heat, the white mulberry grows in any type of soil and prefers partial to full sun. It reaches up to 40 feet tall with a spread 10 to 20 feet wide and dark green leaves that change to yellow in the fall. Named for its pale white blossoms, it bears a 3-inch long white or pink berry that is mildly sweet.

Black Mulberry

The black mulberry produces the sweetest, juiciest berry with a less acidic taste than other mulberries. A smaller tree, it reaches 15 to 20 feet tall, the black mulberry does well in either partial or full sun and provides excellent shade next to a house. Its fruit color is not black but a dark purple with a firm, thick consistency to the berry that is ideal in jellies and sauces.

Red Mulberry

Red mulberries are the largest with a height up to 70 feet and a spread of 20 to 25 feet. While it grows best in partial to full sun in drought regions, a red mulberry favors well-drained soil. Its very sweet fruit is a deep red with heart-shaped leaves that measure 6 inches long and have tiny hairs on the underside. Although prone to fungus, a red mulberry can yield fruit for years if kept healthy.

Chinese Mulberry

Resembling a large shrub, the Chinese mulberry has a twisted shape due to its curled branches. More cold-tolerant than other mulberries, its harvest season is from October to early December. It can grow 30 feet tall, 20 feet wide in moist soil, and bears a short, round berry that tastes similar to watermelon instead of blackberry.

Teas Weeping Fruiting Mulberry

The smallest mulberry tree is the Teas Weeping Fruiting mulberry that reaches 8 to 12 feet tall and about 16 feet wide. Its size and slender weeping branches make it an ideal ornamental tree, but it is susceptible to scales, powdery mildew and black spot. The Teas Weeping Fruiting mulberry produces a juicy, mildly sweet and tart berry.

References

• TreeHelp.com: Mulberry
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Mulberry
• FruitsInfo.com: Berry Fruits
• "Grow Fruit"; Alan Buckingham; 2010