Black Mulberry (Morus nigra "Abtei Brauweiler") – Grafted clone of the oldest mulberry tree in Germany

The Mathilde Mulberry: A living piece of history from Brauweiler Abbey

Bring a real, living natural monument into your own garden! This tree is not just any black mulberry – it is a 100 percent genetically identical clone of the legendary, over 1,000-year-old mulberry tree at Brauweiler Abbey. Thanks to state-of-the-art botanical techniques, the exact genetic makeup of this ancient tree with its unique character has been preserved. An absolute rarity for lovers of historical plants that combines the magic of the Middle Ages with heavenly sweet fruits.

Scope of delivery: Grafted young plant (genetic clone from tissue culture) in a 3-liter pot (approx. 50cm).

Key features at a glance

History & Myth: Mathilde's vision

One of the most fascinating founding legends of the Rhineland is intertwined with the original tree in Brauweiler. According to legend, Mathilde, daughter of Emperor Otto II and wife of the Lotharingian Count Palatine Ezzo, rested in the shade of a large mulberry tree around the year 1024. In her sleep, she had a divine vision that prompted her to found a monastery at exactly that spot – today's Brauweiler Abbey.

The venerable original still stands in the abbey's courtyard today. The gnarly tree has survived wars, storms, and centuries, and is considered the oldest mulberry tree in Germany. With this clone, you are planting the exact same tree under whose leaves an emperor's daughter once wrote German history.

Botanical achievement: Tissue culture and grafting

To secure the unique genetics of this natural monument for posterity, the original material was propagated in the laboratory using a highly complex in-vitro tissue culture. This means your plant is not a common seedling showing genetic variations, but an exact, 1:1 identical clone of the over 1,000-year-old original.

In addition, this clone was expertly grafted onto robust Morus nigra rootstock. This not only guarantees perfect compatibility and maximum vigor, but also ensures the plant is much more resilient and produces its first fruits much earlier than a self-rooted specimen.

The fruits: The black gold of the Middle Ages

The black mulberry was revered in antiquity and the Middle Ages for its delicious fruits as a monastic medicinal and snack plant. In midsummer, the elongated, deep-black berries ripen. They are extremely juicy and possess an incomparably intense, sweet-fruity aroma with a very fine, refreshing acidity. Since the berries are very soft and difficult to transport, eating them fresh directly from your own tree is an exclusive luxury.

Location, care, and special winter hardiness

For this historical clone to develop optimally, it requires a warm, sunny, and wind-sheltered spot – ideally in front of a south-facing wall that radiates heat or in a mild courtyard. The soil should be deep and well-drained, as the fleshy roots of the mulberry absolutely cannot tolerate waterlogging.

Regarding winter hardiness:

The over 1,000-year-old original in the Rhineland is the best proof of the enormous climatic resilience of these genetics. Mature trees are absolutely frost-hardy in our latitudes (down to approx. -20 °C) and brave even harsh winters. Nevertheless, the fresh wood of your grafted young plant must first harden off at its new location. In the first two to three years, light winter protection is therefore essential:

• Root protection: In late autumn, pile up a thick layer of dry leaves, bark mulch, or brushwood around the base of the trunk. This protects the sensitive root collar from deep ground frost.

• Trunk protection: In very harsh locations or during icy east winds (dry frost), it is advisable to wrap the young trunk with breathable frost protection fleece or jute fabric to prevent frost cracks in the bark.

• Handling late frosts: If a late frost in the spring should catch the fresh leaves or tips that sprout very early, there is no need to worry. Morus nigra possesses enormous regenerative power and will willingly sprout again from dormant buds.

Once the tree has mastered this initial establishment phase and developed deep roots, it no longer requires any protection. It will develop into an extremely low-maintenance, heat- and drought-resistant shrub that will bring you joy for decades to come.