Description
Morus alba – White Mulberry
Brief description: The White Mulberry is the food plant of the silkworm and has been cultivated in Central Europe for centuries. Its whitish-pink fruits are sweet and mild, eagerly accepted by birds, and are also edible for humans. Compared to the Black Mulberry, it is somewhat hardier and more vigorous, yet very similar in habit and foliage. As a specimen or fruit tree, it brings Mediterranean flair to gardens and parks.
- Deciduous tree
- Growth heights up to 16 m
- White fruits
Climatic properties & site conditions: The White Mulberry is hardy down to approx. –20 to –25 °C, making it slightly more robust than the Black Mulberry – it can be used in a wider range of locations across Southern Germany. It prefers warm, sunny, and well-drained sites, tolerating heat and moderate drought well. It exhibits root rot on heavy, waterlogged soils. It is well-suited for the Rhine Plain, the Neckar and Main Valleys, and the Lake Constance region.
Advantages: Hardier than Black Mulberry, edible fruits for birds and humans, heat and drought tolerant, fast growth, attractive habit.
Disadvantages: Fruits stain surfaces, no waterlogging, less suitable for harsh high altitudes, non-native, fruits less aromatic than Black Mulberry, no ecological value for native insects.
