Black mulberry
Morus nigra · Moraceae
📷 Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around black mulberry and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- May to June
- Adult size
- 4 m in height
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to -15 °C
- Origin
- Western Asia
- Soil type
- Well-drained, rich in organic matter
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Black mulberry demands little once established. Let it grow naturally rather than pruning systematically.
The common mistake
Cutting back too hard or too often: this drastically reduces fruiting.
The pro's trick
Install protective netting in early July if birds are numerous: they steal most of the ripe fruit.
Care
Exposure
The black mulberry thrives in full sun, which promotes generous fruiting. It tolerates partial shade but produces fewer fruits in this situation. Plant it in a location sheltered from strong winds to protect its fruit-laden branches.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year after planting to establish good root development. Once established, the black mulberry is moderately demanding: water during prolonged dry spells, especially during fruiting. Avoid waterlogging which can rot the roots.
Soil and planting
Choose rich, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Amending with compost or well-decomposed manure facilitates establishment. The black mulberry adapts to most ordinary soils but fears root asphyxiation.
Pruning and training
Prune lightly after flowering or in winter (outside frost periods) to maintain a harmonious shape and air out the tree's center. Remove dead or diseased branches. Gentle annual pruning encourages production and makes fruit harvesting easier.
Fertilizer and nutrition
Enrich the soil with compost each spring. Annual application of balanced organic fertilizer is sufficient to maintain vigor and fruiting. Avoid excess nitrogen which would promote foliage at the expense of fruit.
Pests and diseases
The black mulberry is generally robust. Watch for aphids and spider mites in summer. Powdery mildew can appear in humid, stagnant air: improve air circulation through good pruning. No major problems if growing conditions are met.
Did you know?
The black mulberry has been cultivated since antiquity in Asia and the Middle East. Unlike the white mulberry, which was selected to feed silkworms, the black mulberry established itself as a prestigious fruit tree. In Persia and Turkey, its sweet and delicious fruits have been revered for millennia, and the tree itself symbolizes longevity and wisdom.
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
- Korean mulberryMorus indica
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.