Woody > Morus > Morus nigra > Morus nigra
Morus nigra
Origin: Native to Western Asia, it has also been grown in Europe and around the The Mediterranean for centuries. The tree is now widely cultivated (although less so in North America) especially for the delicious fruit that is produced.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Black Mulberries can be a gorgeous tree when given the proper maintenance and location. The architectural form and dark green leaves are one of the appeals of this tree not to mention the delicious berries it produces. One of the cons of this tree is that the gnarled trunk and branches require care to grow upright otherwise they will grow as more of a bush in form. Black mulberries also produce some of the best fruit out of all mulberry trees, so naturally, they attract birds and other wildlife, they also leave dark stains on pavement and other surfaces around the tree. Lastly, this is an invasive species that will produce many saplings around the tree. Overall I would say this tree may be more trouble than it's worth, but if you put in the effort, the berries may well be worth the hassle.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Moraceae |
| Genus |
| Morus |
| Species |
| nigra |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H6 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-34) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-29) |
| Height |
| 8 - 12 m |
| Spread |
| 15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Spreading form and gnarled bark, thick dark green leaves, and dark juicy berries similar to a blackberry. |
| Landscape |
| Mostly grown for fruit or as an ornamental tree but also used as a windbreak, and shade tree, but this is also considered an invasive species in most places |
| Cultivation |
| These trees prefer moist well-drained soils and tolerate most soil types in a sunny sheltered position.They prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 as most plants do. |
| Shape |
| Round, thick spreading form. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Called nigra because of the large black buds, rather than the blackberry like berries. The tree has deeply furrowed bark and a gnarled twisted form. The leaves are a dark green and heart shaped leaves. |
| Pests |
| They suffer from silkworm, leaf spot, canker, powdery mildew, and mealybugs. The fruit also attracts many birds and other wildlife. The tree could also be considered a pest because it is an invasive species. |
| Habitat |
| The tree is native to Asia, but the exact habitat is somewhat unknown due to its invasive nature and the long time cultivation. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Grey to brown in colour, rugged furrowed bark, becomes more gnarled over time. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The tree has been named nigra due to the large black buds that separates it from other mulberry trees. The buds are almond-shaped, with striate scales and are about 2 cm long by 1.5 cm across. |
| Leaf Description |
| Cordate/ heart-shaped leaves with finely serrated margins, leaves are dark green and a lighter green, hairy underside of the leaf. They are approximately 10-15 cm long and 6-10 cm wide. |
| Flower Description |
| Insignificant flowers with white to light yellow petals, the males being a longer flower the female being thicker and shorter, flowering in mid-spring. |
| Fruit Description |
| Fruit ranges from light green when new to red then to a purple-black fruit. The berries are about 1.5 cm- 2.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter. The Black Mulberry fruit is also known as the best, most flavorful, and delicious of all mulberries |
| Colour Description |
| This tree has a variety of different colours being one of its attractive features. The bark is a dull grey to a dull brown colour, the leaves a deep green, the small blooms on the tree are a white to light yellow colour. The colour of the berries is what really attracts the eyes as they don't ripen all at the same time you get a variety of colour. they go from a light green when first emerging, next to a raspberry red, then when fully ripe a deep purple-black colour. |
| Texture Description |
| Hard, coarse texture year-round. |
| Notable Specimens |
| the Old Black Mulberry in Victoria Park London England, It is believed to be one of the oldest trees in East London. |
| Propagation |
| Many Black Mulberry trees are grown from softwood cuttings because they are dioecious. ‘‘Some fruit-bearing trees do not have a male tree nearby, so any seed you find is likely to be sterile. It is best to find a fruiting mulberry that has lots of close neighbours. This will bring seed viability to very high levels.’’. Since the male trees do not produce the coveted fruit many people choose to take cuttings from a female tree to ensure they get fruit. Softwood cuttings are taken in summer 15- 25 cm in length, all leaves except for the top few are removed, the cutting is then planted in sand on a heating bench, and kept moist for 4-8 weeks. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| This tree has a wide variety of uses particularly the berries for jam juice or by themselves, Cattle and Sheep can also eat the fruit and the leaves. They also have bright yellow heartwood that becomes a deeper orange with age used for woodworking. Unlike most mulberrys the black mulberry in particular is not used to feed silkworms. |
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