mulberry tree

Description

The Mulberry is found wild in western Asia, and has been grown for centuries for its delicious dark red juicy fruit. Excavations of Roman sites in Britain show that it was eaten here in Roman times, and it was a popular fruit in the Middle Ages, when it was added to wine, used as a pudding, and as a dye. The leaves of the mulberry were used to feed silk worms, and James I encouraged the planting of mulberry trees in the hope that this would help Britain to become self-sufficient in silk. The royal planting was known as the Mulberry Garden and became famous, but actually the White Mulberry, Morus Alba, is more suitable for silkworms and the King planted Black Mulberries. The garden eventually deteriorated. Black Mulberry trees are very long-lived and may survive over 500 years, so some which were planted in the early seventeenth century still survive. They become grander with age, with gnarled light brown trunks and attractive foliage. Mulberries flourish in the south of England. Up to 25ft. Self fertile. 

Latin name: Morus Negra 
Type: sweet
Uses: eating raw/ cooking
Flavour: nutty
Fruit colour: brown

Flowering time: March
Picking time:  September
Eating/storing time: a few days
Tree vigour:  25 feet
Rootstock: St Julien
Year planted: 2006