Korean mulberry
Morus indica · Moraceae
📷 Dinesh Valke · CC BY-SA 2.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around korean mulberry and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Morus indica
- Family
- Moraceae
- Type
- Fruit tree
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to June
- Adult size
- 8 meters in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Warm and temperate zones
- Fruits
- Edible mulberries (July-September)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Indian mulberry grows quickly and produces well if the soil is fertile and moist. Water regularly during the first two years.
The common mistake
Planting it in areas with frequent frost or poor dry soil: growth is severely slowed and fruit production is minimal.
The pro's trick
Enrich the soil with compost at planting time and mulch: this boosts fruit production.
Care
Exposure
Your mulberry needs maximum sunlight to fruit abundantly. Plant it in full sun, ideally facing south or southwest. Partial shade is tolerated but reduces fruit production.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season and fruiting period, without creating waterlogging. An established tree tolerates temporary drought well. In summer, increase watering frequency if the soil dries quickly.
Soil
Your mulberry adapts to most soils but prefers well-drained, slightly rich soil. Avoid compacted or waterlogged soils. Adding compost at planting time promotes root establishment.
Pruning and training
Prune lightly after harvest to maintain balanced shape and encourage branching. Remove dead or diseased wood. Severe pruning is not necessary; simply aerate the center of the crown.
Fertilizing
Enrich the soil at planting with compost or well-decomposed manure. During the growing season, a balanced application (NPK) in spring is sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen, which favors foliage at the expense of fruit.
Diseases and pests
Your mulberry is generally robust. Watch for scale insects and spider mites in dry climates. Fungal diseases remain rare on well-maintained trees. Regularly aerate the canopy to limit stagnant humidity.
Did you know?
The Indian mulberry has been cultivated since ancient times in South Asia for its succulent fruits and recognized medicinal properties. In France, it has gradually established itself in the Mediterranean region and the southwest, where it thrives as an ornamental fruit tree. Its black mulberries, with intense flavor, are harvested when ripe (turning from red to black) and eaten fresh or processed into jams and syrups.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Fig treeFicus carica
- White MulberryMorus alba
- Osage orangeMaclura pomifera
- Red mulberryMorus rubra
- Rubber plantFicus elastica
- Black mulberryMorus nigra
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.