Shangri La Mulberry is a cold-hardy white mulberry cultivar that thrives in zones 6 through 9, reaching a mature height of 20 feet. This variety produces abundant fruit during the warm months of July through September, offering gardeners in temperate climates access to fresh mulberries without the frost protection other varieties demand. The combination of cold tolerance and disease resistance makes it a practical choice for northern growers seeking a productive fruit tree that can withstand seasonal freeze cycles.
Full Sun
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6-9
240in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Shangri La Mulberry grows into a substantial 20-foot tree capable of producing heavily during late summer, when most other fruit crops are winding down. Its frost-hardy nature means gardeners in zone 6 can grow it reliably, a significant advantage over tender mulberry varieties. The disease-resistant genetics of this cultivar reduce the common fungal and pest pressures that plague standard mulberry trees, allowing you to focus on harvest rather than constant management.
Shangri La Mulberry produces edible fruit suitable for fresh eating directly from the tree, as well as preservation through jam, syrup, and other cooked preparations. The abundance of late-season berries makes this variety particularly valuable for those seeking to extend their fruit harvest into late summer and early autumn.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Stratify seeds by chilling them in moist sand or peat for 30 days before indoor sowing. Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date in a warm location maintaining 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a seed-starting mix that drains well, and keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date has passed and soil temperatures have reached at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Plant at the same depth they were growing in their containers, spacing trees 15 to 20 feet apart.
Direct sow stratified seeds in early spring after soil can be worked, placing them where they will remain permanently since mulberry trees have deep, spreading root systems that resent disturbance.
Harvest mulberries when they have turned completely dark, nearly black in color, and detach easily from the branch with a gentle tug. The fruit is ripe during mid-summer through early fall, typically beginning in July and continuing through September. Pick berries regularly as they ripen to encourage continued production and prevent them from falling to the ground. The soft, sweet berries are best eaten fresh immediately after harvest, though they can be refrigerated for a few days or frozen for later use in jams and cooked preparations.
Prune Shangri La Mulberry in late winter while dormant to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches and to shape the canopy for light penetration and air circulation. Young trees benefit from early structural pruning to establish a strong framework. Mature trees require minimal pruning beyond maintenance, though you can selectively thin branches to manage size or improve fruit exposure to sunlight.
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