Mulberries
Botanical name: Morus
Mulberries
Botanical name: Morus
Description
Mulberries (Morus) are part of the fig family. The leaves of white mulberries are the food source for silkworms, so the cultivation of these plants has been vital for Chinese silk manufacturing for thousands of years. German legend, meanwhile, holds that the plant is a symbol of evil spirits and the devil uses its roots to polish his shoes.
Species of Mulberries
White mulberry 'Pendula'
‘Pendula’ means ‘hanging’ in Latin, and refers to the dangling or weeping branches of White mulberry 'Pendula'. This is a female hybrid that produces attractive white and pink fruit in contrast to the similar Morus alba 'Chaparral', which is male. White mulberry 'Pendula' makes a striking low-maintenance specimen shrub.
White mulberry
A unique and easy-to-grow edible landscaping plant, the white mulberry is prized for its tasty fruits as well as its exquisite ornamental appeal. Originally native to China, this plant was valued for its role in silk production: silkworms will only eat the leaves of white mulberry trees, making them crucial for the product's creation. Ultimately, the trees were sold around the world and are used today in different countries that produce silk.
Black mulberry
Black mulberry (Morus nigra) is a deciduous flowering tree native to southwestern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. Black mulberry has been cultivated for a very long time in Europe and China for its edible fruit. It was imported into Britain in the 17th century with hope it would be useful in cultivating silkworms. However, silkworms prefer the white mulberry.
Red mulberry
Red mulberry (Morus rubra) is a small- to medium-sized deciduous tree. Its sweet fruits are edible and look like blackberries. They can be eaten raw or boiled and are used in cake or pastry fillings. They can also be fermented to make alcoholic mulberry wine. Records of interactions with red mulberry plants by English settlers date back to the first days of colonization in what is now Virginia.
White mulberry
The white mulberry (Morus australis) is native to northern China but is naturalized in the USA. It is cultivated to feed the silkworms involved in the commercial production of silk. When it releases its pollen, the stamens act as catapults, and the pollen is ejected at 380 miles per hour, the fastest recorded movement in the plant world.
Hua mulberry
Hua mulberry (Morus cathayana) are part of the fig family. The leaves of white hua mulberry are the food source for silkworms, so the cultivation of these plants has been vital for Chinese silk manufacturing for thousands of years. German legend, meanwhile, holds that the plant is a symbol of evil spirits and the devil uses its roots to polish his shoes.
Texas mulberry
Texas mulberry (Morus microphylla) are part of the fig family. The leaves of white texas mulberry are the food source for silkworms, so the cultivation of these plants has been vital for Chinese silk manufacturing for thousands of years. German legend, meanwhile, holds that the plant is a symbol of evil spirits and the devil uses its roots to polish his shoes.
Care Guide for Mulberries
Scientific Classification
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