The Weeping Mulberry is a strikingly ornamental fruit tree that defies the usual image of productive plants. With naturally drooping branches that sweep toward the ground and a contorted trunk, this cultivar grows 10 feet tall and thrives in zones 4 through 9. Unlike many fruit trees that demand rigid forms, the Weeping Mulberry creates an almost magical teepee-like canopy underneath its limbs, where you can sit and pick dark, delicious berries about an inch long directly from the branches around you. In July and August, small greenish flowers appear before giving way to the fruit, making this as beautiful to look at as it is productive to harvest.
Full Sun
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3-9
120in H x ?in W
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High
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Those drooping branches aren't just for show. The Weeping Mulberry's natural weeping habit creates a hidden retreat beneath the tree where you can actually sit while harvesting your berries. The contorted trunk and arching limbs give this tree sculptural presence year-round, even when leafless in winter. You get genuine edible fruit, generous harvests of dark berries with real flavor, combined with an ornamental form that makes every other upright fruit tree look boring by comparison.
Weeping Mulberries produce edible berries that you harvest fresh from the branches. The fruit can be eaten directly off the tree at peak ripeness, making this cultivar as much a specimen tree for the ornamental garden as a food producer.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Seeds germinate in temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost to allow seedlings time to develop before transplanting.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost has passed and soil temperatures consistently reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space trees at least 10 feet apart to accommodate their mature spread.
Harvest mulberries in mid to late summer when they reach their full dark color and feel soft to the gentle touch. The berries will be approximately 1 inch long at maturity. Pick them directly by hand, enjoying the unique experience of harvesting from within the tree's sheltered canopy. Fully ripe berries detach easily from the branches with a light tug.
The Weeping Mulberry's naturally contorted trunk and drooping branches are its defining features, so minimal pruning is best. Focus on supporting emerging branches vertically when the tree is young by tying them upright to establish a strong central leader. Once established, prune only to remove dead wood, crossing branches, or any growth that blocks access under the canopy. Allow the weeping habit to develop naturally rather than fighting against it with heavy pruning.
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