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

Anyone growing snacking fruit in their garden often struggles with dried-out berries or thirsty shrubs that need constant watering during increasingly hot and dry summers. If you are looking for an absolutely heat-resistant, low-maintenance alternative that also provides kilos of honey-sweet fruit, you cannot look past the White Mulberry (Morus alba). It is a true climate winner, grows completely trouble-free, and provides you with your own fresh superfood right in 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 meal: Originally from Asia (especially China), the White Mulberry is a plant with real global history. It was cultivated over 4,500 years ago for one single, incredibly valuable reason: its leaves are the absolute and only food source for the larvae of the silkmoth (Bombyx mori). These extremely picky insects eat literally nothing else. Without the White Mulberry tree, there would simply be no silk in this world! You aren't bringing a delicate exotic into your garden, but rather a proven, ancient agricultural legacy that thrives in our latitudes and is absolutely winter-hardy.

Of imperial secrets and botanical records

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

• The first case of industrial espionage: For millennia, the Chinese emperor guarded the secret of silk production—and thus the plants and caterpillars—under penalty of death. It was not until the 6th century that two cunning monks allegedly managed to smuggle silkworm eggs and mulberry tree seeds to Constantinople in hollow bamboo walking sticks. With that, the monopoly was broken!

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

• A rapid world record: The White Mulberry is not just historically fascinating; it also holds an official physical record in the plant kingdom. When it blooms, its stamens relax explosively in less than 25 microseconds, launching pollen into the air at around 610 km/h. This is nearly half the speed of sound and is considered the fastest known movement in all of botany!

Climate pioneer instead of watering worry-wart

Go ahead and put the watering can down! While other fruit trees quickly let their leaves droop during heat and prolonged dry spells, the mulberry only really kicks into gear. It develops deep roots, is incredibly undemanding regarding soil, and loves full sun. At the same time, it effortlessly shrugs off European winter frosts. A true natural talent that will give 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. Anyone who takes a closer look at the leaves might think they are looking at branches from different plants! The mulberry tends towards what is known as heterophylly (leaf variation). This means that completely differently shaped leaves grow on one and the same tree—often right next to each other on the same branch. Some are simple, oval, or heart-shaped with a slightly serrated edge, while others are deeply and artfully incised, almost lobed like those of a fig tree. This bright light-green, completely unpredictable foliage makes the plant a real visual highlight in your garden even without fruit.

Honey-sweet berries instead of a sour expression

Visually, the fruits resemble elongated blackberries, varying in color from white, cream-colored, pink, red, or even dark purple to almost black (about 2 to 3 centimeters long). The taste, however, is a completely different world! White mulberries are almost completely lacking in typical fruit acid. When you bite into them, a mild, pure, and downright honey-like sweetness awaits you. Since the fully ripe fruits become very soft in midsummer and fall from the tree easily, you can often simply lay a clean cloth under the shrub during harvest and shake the branches slightly.

A tree by your rules

Left 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 back vigorously in the spring and keep it as a compact shrub, as picturesque espalier fruit against a warm wall, or even in a large container (40 liters or more) on the patio. It forgives any pruning and will willingly grow back.

Off to the kitchen – what to do with your harvest:

• The pure superfood: Snacked on straight from the branch, they are a sugar-sweet treat packed with Vitamin C, iron, and antioxidants. Perfect for a little hunger in the garden!

• Your muesli upgrade: Mixed fresh into oatmeal, yogurt, or a smoothie bowl, they are the perfect natural sweetener for the morning.

• Your own winter stock: White mulberries can be dried magnificently in a dehydrator or in the oven at a low temperature. They become slightly crispy with a delicate toffee note—you’d pay a fortune for dried mulberries in the organic market, here you get them for free!

• Sweet fruit spreads: Since they contain no acid themselves, they are excellent for cooking into fantastic, balanced jams along with tart fruit (like raspberries, rhubarb, or currants).

Recipe tip: Quick superfood energy balls with fresh mulberries

Since the mulberry naturally has an intense, honey-like sweetness, it is the perfect base for healthy snacks without added sugar. These little energy balls are ready in 5 minutes and are the perfect snack for in between meals or before a workout.

Ingredients (for approx. 12-15 balls):

• 1 large cup fresh White Mulberries (alternatively dried; if so, 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

• Shredded coconut or chopped pistachios for rolling

Preparation:

1. Crush: Place the almonds or walnuts in a food processor and pulse briefly until coarsely crushed.

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

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

4. Roll: With slightly moistened hands, shape bite-sized balls from the mixture.

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

6. Cool: Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so they firm up nicely. They will keep easily in the fridge for up to a week!

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 snack berries in the summer.