Schwarze Maulbeere

Prefers a warm moist but well-drained loamy soil in a sheltered sunny position. Prefers a light soil. Plants are very tolerant of atmospheric pollution. Trees are hardy as far north as southern Sweden. A slow growing but very ornamental tree, the mulberry is sometimes cultivated in gardens for its delicious edible fruit. The tree is not grown on a commercial scale because the fruit is too soft and easily damaged to allow it to be transported to market, and is therefore best eaten straight from the tree. There are some named varieties. The mulberry takes many years to settle down and produce good crops of fruit, about 15 years being the norm. Trees fruit well in southern and south-western Britain but they require the protection of a wall further north if the fruit is to ripen. This is a good tree for growing grapes into. It means that the grapes are difficult to pick, but they always seem to be healthier and free from fungal diseases. Plants are late coming into leaf and also lose their leaves at the first autumn frosts though the tree in leaf casts quite a dense shade. Mulberries have brittle roots and so need to be handled with care when planting them out. Any pruning should only be carried out in the winter when the plant is fully dormant because mulberries bleed badly when cut. Ideally prune only badly placed branches and dead wood. Once considered to be a very long-lived tree, doubts are now being cast on this assumption, it is probably fairly short-lived. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a standard with a non-suckering single trunk [1-2]. Mulberries are typically harvested in late Spring to early Summer, depending on the specific variety and local climate conditions. Mulberry trees flower in Spring. Mulberry trees are considered fast-growing, often reaching heights of 6-12 meters (20-40 feet) within a few years under optimal conditions. Morus nigra is self-fertile, meaning a single tree can produce fruit without the need for cross-pollination.

Edible Parts: Fruit Shoots Edible Uses: Fruit - raw, cooked or used in preserves. A delicious slightly acid flavour, it makes an excellent dessert fruit and can be eaten in quantity[K]. The fruit is juicy and refreshing, though it must be used as soon as it is ripe (from mid-August to September) otherwise it will start to rot. The fruit falls from the tree as soon as it is fully ripe. It is best, therefore, to grow the tree in short grass to cushion the fall of the fruit but to still make it possible to find and harvest[K]. The fruit can also be dried and ground into a powder. The fruit is up to 25mm in diameter. White Mulberry (Morus alba) has edible young leaves and shoots eaten cooked but we have found no information for this plant.

Dye Fibre Wood Agroforestry uses: Mulberry trees can be used for shade, erosion control, and as a forage source for livestock. The leaves are particularly valuable as food for silkworms. Additionally, they can improve soil structure and health. A fibre used in weaving is obtained from the bark. A red-violet to dark purple dye is obtained from the fruit. A yellow-green dye is obtained from the leaves. Wood - used in joinery. 1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen: No – Mulberry flowers are wind-pollinated and not particularly rich in nectar or pollen for attracting pollinators. 2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf Litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting): Yes – Mulberries produce abundant fruit that provides food for birds, mammals, and insects. The dense foliage can serve as shelter, and the tree’s structure supports bird nesting and roosting. 3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover): Yes – Mulberry trees have rough bark that can shelter invertebrates. Leaf litter and ground cover from fallen leaves provide overwintering sites for beneficial insects. 4. Pest Confuser (Smell): No – Mulberry trees do not have a strong aroma that would confuse or deter pests.

Heimisch: BR, Caribbean, England [I] (England [I], Wales [I], Isles of Scilly [I]); Netherlands [I]; Germany [c]; Switzerland [c]; Austria [c]; Poland [c]; Slovakia [I]; Hungary [I]; Portugal [I]; Spain [I]; Baleares [c]; France [I]; Channel Isl. [I] (Guernsey [I]); Sardinia [I]; Italy [I]; Sicily [I]; Malta [I]; Slovenia [I]; Croatia [c]; Bosnia & Hercegovina [I]; Montenegro [I]; Serbia [I]; Kosovo [I]; North Macedonia [I]; Albania [I]; Bulgaria [c]; Greece [I]; European Russia [c]; Moldova [c]; Ukraine [I]; Crimea [I]; Morocco [I]; Algeria [I]; Tunisia [I]; Libya [I]; Madeira [I]; Canary Isl. [I] (Gran Canaria [I], Tenerife [I], Hierro [I], La Palma [I], La Gomera [I], Lanzarote [I], Fuerteventura [I]); St. Helena [c]; Kazakhstan [I]; Turkmenistan [I]; Uzbekistan [I]; Kyrgyzstan [I]; Tajikistan [I]; Georgia [Caucasus] [I]; Armenia [c]; Azerbaijan [I]; East Aegaean Isl. [I] (incl. Rhodos [I]); Iraq [I]; W-Iran; Afghanistan [I]; Saudi Arabia [I]; Bahrain [I]; Qatar [I]; Yemen [I]; China [I]; Pakistan [I]; India [c]; Vietnam [I]; Australia [I] (Queensland [I]); USA [I] (Kentucky [I], Louisiana [I], Ohio [I], Texas [I], West Virginia [I]); Mexico [I]; Costa Rica [I]; Cuba [I]; Puerto Rico [I]; Guadeloupe [I]; Martinique [I]; St. Lucia [I]; Barbados [I], Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China), GR, Global, Iran, North America Eingeführt: AL, AT, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, BA, BG, BR, BW, Belgium, Bermuda, Brussels-Capital Region, Bulgaria, CU, CY, Canary Is., Channel Is., Corse (Corsica), Cuba, Cyprus, DK, ES, England, Flemish Region, France, GB, Galápagos Islands, Great Britain, Greece, HR, IE, India, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Puerto Rico, Romania, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Wales, Walloon Region, West Himalaya, Windward Is., Xinjiang, the Democratic Republic of the Congo