A mulberry tree is an absolute must for your homestead or backyard. These fast-growing shade trees provide food for your family and excellent fodder for chickens, ducks, goats, and other livestock. Every part of the tree—the leaves, bark, and berries—is edible.
Mulberry trees make a fantastic addition to any family orchard. When we first moved to our property, we were thrilled to discover a huge mulberry tree—technically in our neighbor’s yard, but its branches stretch generously over our fence. Just in case, we’ve planted a few more around our place. One thing we’ve learned? Growing mulberry trees is surprisingly easy.
There are three main types of mulberries: red (Morus rubra), white (Morus alba), and black (M. nigra). There’s also a Texas mulberry tree (which goes by other names too). The red and Texas varieties are native to North America.
Identifying Mulberry Tree Varieties
According to Wildflower.org, “Both red and Texas mulberries display a mix of leaf shapes, from ovate to lobed, even on the same tree. The purple or red fruit of these two looks a lot like dewberries.” (Dewberries are a type of wild blackberry common in Texas and other southern states.)
The white mulberry tree was originally brought to the U.S. from China to support the silk industry—silkworms love mulberry leaves. While the silk trade never really took off here, the white mulberry stuck around.
The black mulberry, native to Southwestern Asia, later spread to Europe and then the U.S. It’s the rarest variety here.
When it comes to growing and using them, the differences between mulberry types are minor (aside from color). So if, like me, you’ve inherited a mulberry tree and aren’t sure which kind it is, don’t stress too much.
I think most of ours are native red mulberries. But we recently found a white mulberry on our property that we didn’t plant—it produced white berries, so I’m sure that’s what it is. Probably a gift from a passing bird!
The tricky part about identifying mulberries by their fruit? A white mulberry (M. alba) can produce white, red, or black berries. To really tell them apart, you’ll need to examine the leaves. Here’s a great resource for distinguishing red and white mulberry trees.
Mulberry trees can grow over 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide, so make sure you’ve got enough space. The good news? Many are self-pollinating, so one tree is all you need.
The fruit is like a thin, elongated blackberry—sweeter, in my opinion.
Since mulberry trees drop a lot of small, messy fruit, it’s best not to plant them near driveways or porches. They’re perfect near a chicken coop, though—our hens love hanging out underneath, scratching around for fallen berries.
Mulberries are one of the few things on our property I don’t bother tracking in my gardening notebook. They’re so low-maintenance and such a delightful early-spring treat that we just enjoy them as they come, without fussing over production.
Planting or Propagating
When we bought our land, there were several tiny mulberry seedlings growing wild. Some we relocated to better spots; others got mowed down.
Now I realize those were probably first-year saplings—mulberry trees grow fast! The tree pictured above is only four years old and has already been fruiting for two.
Of course, you can always buy a mulberry tree from a nursery. Just check the variety—some are self-pollinating, while others need separate male and female trees to produce fruit. (Male flowers are about twice as long as female ones.)
If you know someone with a mulberry tree, you might snag a free “volunteer” sapling—they tend to pop up everywhere.
You can also propagate mulberries from cuttings, but avoid taking them while the tree is fruiting. Choose new growth that’s not too green and flexible—softwood cuttings work best.
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone, plant it in a pot, and once it’s rooted and growing, transplant it outside. Mulberries love full sun, so pick a bright spot.
Caring for Mulberry Trees
Mulberry trees are tough and adaptable, but they don’t like soggy roots. Plant them in well-draining soil.
Once established, they rarely need watering unless there’s a drought. Fertilizer isn’t necessary, but a bit of compost in spring won’t hurt.
Pruning? Barely needed. If you do prune, do it when the tree is dormant and avoid cutting branches thicker than 2 inches.
They’re cold-hardy (some survive down to -25°F!) and don’t need frost protection. They also thrive in low-chill climates, like here along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Pests and Problems
Mulberry trees don’t attract many pests. Ours gets web worms every spring—we just knock the webs off with a broom. If it’s really bad, we’ll cut and burn the affected branch. The tree always bounces back, so we skip chemicals.
You can also use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), an organic treatment that targets worms without harming beneficial bugs—though it will affect butterfly and moth caterpillars too.
Occasionally, whiteflies, mealybugs, or scale might show up. These are more annoying than harmful. For whiteflies and mealybugs, a strong spray of water helps, or introduce ladybugs and lacewings. (I’ve even used a shop vac to suck up whiteflies—kids love this job!) Controlling ants around the tree also helps, since ants protect these pests.
For scale, prune and burn infested branches, or release ladybugs and parasitic wasps. Horticultural oil works during the crawling stage, but it’ll affect good bugs too.
Harvesting and Using Mulberries
When the berries turn dark purple, they’re ready. Since they’re smaller than blackberries, it takes a lot for pies or jam—we mostly enjoy them fresh.
The stems are soft, so we eat them whole. We also keep a freezer stash for smoothies or baking.
You can dehydrate them like blueberries and add them to tea. Even the leaves are nutritious—great for animal feed or human consumption.
Our neighbor’s cow loves snacking on the overhanging branches, and our chickens forage under the tree daily.
To make mulberry leaf tea, pick mature leaves, wash them, and dehydrate them (in a dehydrator, oven, or sun-dried). Mix in some dried berries for extra flavor.
If you’re curious to learn more, check out Herbal Roots Zine: Mulling Over Mulberries—it’s geared toward kids but fun for adults too. I just got a copy for my daughter Esther and me to explore.
The Herbal Academy’s Herbarium also has an excellent mulberry monograph. If you’re into herbs, a membership is worth it—it’s some of the most affordable herbal training out there.
