The Red Shahtoot Mulberry is a Persian heirloom fruit tree that deserves space in any hardiness zone 5-10 garden. Known locally as ShahToot, this cultivar of Morus macroura produces abundant, juicy fruits throughout the summer with a captivating balance of sweet and tart flavors. The berries ripen to an almost-black color, resembling blackberries at first glance, but their taste, texture, and growing habits are distinctly their own. Growing slowly and steadily to 25-30 feet tall, these trees fruit reliably and generously, making them one of the most beloved Persian fruit varieties among those who know them.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-10
360in H x ?in W
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High
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The Persian ShahToot grows at a measured pace compared to standard red mulberries, producing fruit all summer long rather than in a single flush. The ripe berries wear an almost-black coat but taste nothing like blackberries, instead offering a complex interplay of sweetness and pleasing tartness that evolves as they ripen. This slower growth habit means a more manageable tree in the home orchard, one that won't outgrow its space while still delivering the generous harvests that made it beloved across the Persian fruit-growing regions.
Red Shahtoot mulberries are eaten fresh off the tree at full ripeness, when their complex sweet-tart flavor shines brightest. They can also be dried for preservation or processed into jams and other preserves, though their primary appeal lies in fresh consumption during the long summer fruiting season.
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Wait until the berries have fully ripened to an almost-black color before harvesting, this is when they achieve their best flavor balance of sweetness and pleasant tartness. Ripe berries will come away easily from the branch with a gentle tug. Begin harvesting in summer when fruits first mature and continue gathering throughout the season as new berries reach ripeness. The extended bloom period from July through September means a long harvest window rather than a single concentrated picking.
Light shaping and maintenance pruning work well for Red Shahtoot Mulberry, since the tree grows more slowly than standard red mulberries and doesn't develop the aggressive, sprawling growth habit of some varieties. Remove any dead or crossing branches and thin the canopy if needed to improve air circulation, but avoid heavy cutting that would reduce fruiting wood.
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“The ShahToot mulberry carries a long heritage through Persian fruit culture, where it has been cultivated and refined over centuries for its superior flavor and consistent productivity. The name itself reflects its place in Persian horticultural tradition, where it stands among the most revered stone and pit fruit varieties. This cultivar represents generations of selection for the qualities that gardeners most valued: reliable fruiting, excellent flavor balance, and a tree form that fits within the home landscape without requiring aggressive management.”