Native & adapted

Mulberry

Morus alba cultivars

Exceptional food and summer shade with moderate water; choose fruiting cultivars thoughtfully and allow ample space.

EdibleFruitingDeciduousFast growing

Landscape layersUpper canopy

Mature size

20–40 ft tall × 25–45 ft wide; disciplined annual pruning can maintain a smaller harvest canopy

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b · High desert · USDA 6a–8b

Special categories

EDIBLE

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardiness

Hardy here

White mulberry is hardy to USDA zone 4, so cold is never a worry here. It leafs out early, and a rare late frost can brown the first flush of flowers and young fruit.

Leaves and wood: damaged below -20°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

One of the old Phoenix shade trees, it takes full west sun without complaint. Fruit ripens in spring before the worst heat, so sunburn isn't a real issue.

Sources:

asu.edu , missouribotanicalgarden.org

Right plant, right place

Will Mulberry grow at your Arizona property?

Use the whole site—not only the hardiness zone. Confirm mature width, reflected heat, seasonal shade, drainage, irrigation reach, and cold-air pockets before planting.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b, High desert · USDA 6a–8b.

Choose the actual plant, not only the label

Cultivars & selections

Buy a named fruiting selection. Fruit length, flavor, staining, final tree size, and sex vary widely among mulberries sold under the broad Morus alba label.

Pakistan

Morus macroura ‘Pakistan’

Mature size20–35 ft tall × 25–35 ft wide

Best forVery long, sweet berries and fast summer shade

Produces dark red-to-black fruit that may reach several inches long. Vigorous and excellent in heat, but fruit stains hardscape.

Persian

Morus nigra selections

Mature size15–30 ft tall × 15–30 ft wide

Best forIntense berry flavor and a somewhat slower tree

Deeply flavored, dark fruit on a slower-growing tree. True M. nigra can be difficult to source, so verify the nursery’s identity.

Shangri-La

Morus alba ‘Shangri-La’

Mature size20–30 ft tall × 20–30 ft wide

Best forLarge black fruit and broad leaves

Early-bearing, vigorous selection with large leaves and fruit; allow substantial canopy room.

Illinois Everbearing

Morus alba × rubra ‘Illinois Everbearing’

Mature size20–35 ft tall × 20–35 ft wide

Best forExtended harvest and cold tolerance

Excellent-flavored dark fruit over a long season; more broadly useful in cooler and high-desert locations than Pakistan.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Mulberry thrive

1
Confirm the plant’s mature spread and underground conflicts before digging.
2
Place the root flare at finished grade and keep mulch away from the trunk.
3
Establish a wide, deep root zone instead of irrigating only at the trunk.
4
Observe seasonal growth, heat stress, and wildlife use before making major pruning changes.