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Planting
instructions |
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Mulberry (Morus spp.)
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Exposure: Full sun to light shade. Zone 4
Soil: Widely adapted to most soils.
Growth habits: Mulberry can either be grown as
a medium shade tree, as a small tree (with annual pruning). or as
a coppiced multi-stemmed large shrub for easy picking. It flowers
and fruits on new growth, thus escaping spring frosts. The purple-black
fruit is shaped somewhat like a blackberry, but longer and can ripen
through most of the summer.
Landscape uses: Depending on pruning regimen, mulberry
can be grown as a shade tree, a small tree, or a multistemmed large
shrub. Its relatively coarse foliage is best used on the edge in
shrub borders, screening trees, or in lawns. Keep these trees away
from parked autos, decks, and paved surfaces such as walks, drives,
and patios as the falling fruit or purple poop from feasting birds
will stain.
Edible properties: Mulberries are slender, juicy,
sweet and delicious purple-black fruit with high phytonutritional
and antioxidant content due to their abundant anthocyanins. They
are quite delightful to eat fresh on a hot summer day, or gather
up and make into a sweet and refreshing juice. They also may be
dried, fermented into mead or wine, or processed into fresh baked
goods.
$45.00 / 7 gal. summer availability |
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Available Varieties
Illinois Everbearing - The standard for fruiting mulberries.
Extremely precocious, self-fruitful, heavy-yielding variety that bears
very sweet fruit over much of the summer.
Oscar's - An excellent hardy, early-ripening variety.
Fruit is edible in the red stage, when it has a raspberry-like flavor,
or when black and ripe, when it is among the finest-flavored varieties.
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