Description
Morus nigra – Black Mulberry
Short description: The Black Mulberry is a tree with history – cultivated in Southern Europe since antiquity and prized for its deep dark, aromatically sweet fruits. Its gnarled, picturesque growth with a broad crown lends it a Mediterranean character that stands out immediately in any garden. The fruits ripen in August and September, have an intensely sweet-tart flavor, and are a coveted food source for wild birds. With age, it develops an impressive, sculptural tree form.
- Deciduous tree
- Growth heights up to 16m
- Black fruits
- Heat-tolerant
- Tolerates poor soils
- Good wood properties
Climatic properties & site conditions: The Black Mulberry is hardy down to approx. –15 to –20 °C and is therefore well-suited for the warmer regions of Southern Germany – the Rhine Plain, Lake Constance region, Stuttgart area, and Franconian wine-growing regions. In harsh high altitudes above 500 m and during persistent black frosts, shoots may freeze back. It prefers warm, sunny locations with well-drained, nutrient-rich soils. It tolerates drought better than wetness; avoid waterlogging.
Advantages: Aromatic, edible fruits, picturesque-sculptural growth, Mediterranean flair, drought-tolerant, attractive specimen tree, fruits as bird food, long-lived.
Disadvantages: Only suitable for milder regions of Southern Germany, fruits stain intensely and heavily soil terraces and paths, no waterlogging, slow juvenile growth, rare in the trade.
