White Mulberry (Morus alba) - Historic Silkworm Tree & Heat-Resistant Fruit

Gardeners growing soft fruit often struggle with dried-up berries or thirsty shrubs needing constant watering in increasingly hot and dry summers. If you're looking for an absolutely heat-resistant, low-maintenance alternative that also yields pounds of sugar-sweet fruit, you can't go wrong with the White Mulberry (Morus alba). It's a true climate winner, grows effortlessly, and delivers your own fresh superfood right to your garden.

Scope of delivery: Per plant in a 3-liter pot (30-40 cm) or in a 9cm pot (approx. 15-20cm)

Origin & The Silkworm's Favorite Food: Originally from Asia (especially China), the White Mulberry is a plant with a true global history. It was cultivated over 4,500 years ago for one incredibly valuable reason: its leaves are the absolute and sole food source for silkworm caterpillars (Bombyx mori). These extremely picky insects literally eat nothing else. Without the White Mulberry tree, there would simply be no silk in the world! You're not bringing a delicate exotic into your garden, but a proven, ancient cultivated plant heritage that thrives excellently in our latitudes and is absolutely winter-hardy.

Of Imperial Secrets and Botanical Records

This tree has experienced more than many history books and is full of curiosities:

• The first case of industrial espionage: For millennia, the Chinese emperor guarded the secret of silk production – and thus also the plants and caterpillars – under threat of death. It was only in the 6th century that two clever monks allegedly succeeded in smuggling silkworm eggs and mulberry tree seeds in hollow bamboo walking sticks to Constantinople. This broke the monopoly!

• Prussian Silk Dreams: Kings in Europe were also mad about the tree. Frederick the Great had White Mulberry trees planted en masse along roadsides and in cemeteries in Prussia (even in Berlin and Potsdam) in the 18th century to build his own independent silk industry. Even today, gnarled remnants of this ambitious royal project can be found in some old parks.

• A rapid world record: The White Mulberry is not only historically fascinating but also holds an official physical record in the plant kingdom. When it blooms, its stamens explode in less than 25 microseconds, catapulting pollen into the air at around 610 km/h. That's almost half the speed of sound and is considered the fastest known movement in all of botany!

Climate Pioneer Instead of Watering Worrywart

Feel free to put down the watering can! While other fruit trees quickly drop their leaves during heat and prolonged dry periods, the mulberry really kicks into high gear. It forms deep roots, is incredibly undemanding regarding soil, and loves full sun. At the same time, it easily withstands European winter frosts. A true natural talent that will bring you joy for years without demanding constant care.

One Tree, Many Faces: The Curious Leaf Shape

Another fascinating feature of the White Mulberry is its foliage. If you look closely at the leaves, you might think you have branches from different plants! The mulberry tends towards so-called heterophylly (different leaf shapes). This means that completely different shaped leaves grow on one and the same tree – often even right next to each other on the same branch. Some are quite simple oval or heart-shaped with a slightly serrated edge, while others are deeply and artfully incised and almost lobed like a fig tree. This bright light green, completely unpredictable foliage makes the plant a real eye-catcher in your garden even without fruit.

Honey-Sweet Berries Instead of Sour Faces

Visually, the fruits resemble elongated blackberries, varying in color from white, cream, pink, red, or even dark purple to almost black (about 2 to 3 centimeters long). However, the taste is a completely different world! White mulberries almost completely lack the typical fruit acidity. When you bite into them, you'll find a mild, pure, and almost honey-like sweetness. Since fully ripe fruits become very soft in mid-summer and easily fall from the tree, a clean cloth is often simply placed under the bush for harvesting, and the branches are gently shaken.

A Tree by Your Rules

Unpruned, the White Mulberry can grow into a stately tree of 8 to 10 meters. But don't worry if you have less space! This plant is extremely tolerant of pruning. You can easily prune it vigorously in spring and keep it as a compact bush, as picturesque espalier fruit on a warm wall, or even in a large pot (from 40 liters) on the terrace. It forgives any pruning and willingly sprouts again.

Into the Kitchen – What to Make with Your Harvest:

• The pure superfood: Snacked directly from the branch, they are a sugar-sweet treat packed with vitamin C, iron, and antioxidants. Perfect for a small hunger pang in the garden!

• Your muesli upgrade: Freshly mixed into oatmeal, yogurt, or a smoothie bowl, they are the perfect natural sweetener in the morning.

• Your own winter stock: White mulberries are fantastic for drying in a dehydrator or at a low temperature in the oven. They become slightly crispy with a delicate toffee note – at the organic market, you pay a fortune for dried mulberries, here you have them for free!

• Sweet fruit spreads: Since they don't bring any acidity themselves, they can be perfectly cooked into fantastic, balanced jams together with acidic fruits (like raspberries, rhubarb, or currants).

Recipe Tip: Quick Superfood Energy Balls with Fresh Mulberries

Since mulberries naturally bring an intense, honey-like sweetness, they are the perfect base for healthy snacks without added sugar. These small energy balls are ready in 5 minutes and are the perfect snack for in between meals or before exercise.

Ingredients (for approx. 12-15 balls):

• 1 large cup fresh White Mulberries (alternatively dried, then soak in warm water for 10 minutes beforehand)

• 1 cup almonds or walnuts

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)

• 1 tbsp coconut oil (slightly warmed, liquid)

• A small pinch of sea salt

• Desiccated coconut or chopped pistachios for rolling

Preparation:

1. Chop: Put the almonds or walnuts into a blender (food processor) and briefly mix until roughly chopped.

2. Mix: Add the washed (or drained) mulberries, rolled oats, cocoa powder, liquid coconut oil, and the pinch of salt.

3. Puree: Blend everything until a sticky, malleable mixture forms. If the dough is too dry, simply add a small splash of water (or the soaking liquid). If it's too wet, stir in a few more oats.

4. Roll: Form bite-sized balls from the mixture with slightly moistened hands.

5. The Finish: Roll the finished balls in desiccated coconut or chopped pistachios until they are completely covered.

6. Chill: Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up nicely. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week without any problems!

Say goodbye to delicate fruit trees that wilt during every dry spell. With the White Mulberry (Morus alba), you are choosing an absolutely resilient climate winner that adapts to your space and rewards you with honey-sweet berries in summer.