Plants: Morus platanifolia - mulberry

This mulberry is very special. Deeply cut, dark green, glossy leaves draw your attention as they bear strong resemblance to leaves of plane trees. Many of the largest leaves at the ends of the branches keep their green colour until late in the autumn when they fall down green. The crown is wide spreading and thick, which makes it an ideal opportunity to place a bench underneath and enjoy its shade.

The crown is somewhat regular in shape and we have a trick to make it look even more umbrella-like: after danger of bad frosts just cut last year’s branches to about 20 cm. This will encourage rapid new growth of long branches (up to 1.5 m per year) that will spread mainly to sides. Unpruned, it will make regular mushroom-head crown with standard size growths.

Find it a nice place sheltered from drying winter winds. It grows in almost any well-drained soil but will thrive in deep, fertile soil, making longer branches and bigger leaves. Fully hardy to -24°C and withstands occasional swings to -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Usual height and width: 3-5m x 2-4m
Leaves: deciduous broadleaf
Size/type: medium-sized tree
Colour of leaves: green
Blooming time:
Location: full sun
Flowers: insignificant or non-blooming
USDA zone (lowest): 5b (down to -27°C)
Belongs to categories: Deciduous broadleaf