Red Mulberry Tree 12-24in Tall Morus rubra Bare Root Fruit Tree

Overview

Bring the joy of fresh, homegrown fruit to your garden with a red mulberry tree. This offering is for a 12-24 inch tall morus rubra bare root specimen, ready to establish itself in your landscape. Known for its sweet, juicy berries and attractive foliage, the Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) is a deciduous tree native to Eastern North America. It’s a fantastic choice for gardeners looking for a productive fruit tree zones 4-8 that also provides ecological benefits, attracting a variety of birds and wildlife. Planting a Red Mulberry not only yields delicious fruit but also enhances the biodiversity of your outdoor space, offering shade and natural beauty for years to come.

The Red Mulberry is a robust and adaptable tree, capable of thriving in a range of conditions. Its natural resilience makes it an excellent option for both experienced and novice gardeners interested in growing their own fruit. As a bare root plant, it is shipped without soil around its roots, typically during its dormant season, allowing for easy handling and successful transplanting directly into your garden. Once established, this tree becomes a low-maintenance addition, providing an annual harvest of delectable berries.

Key Benefits

A red mulberry tree offers numerous advantages to the home gardener and the local ecosystem. Its hardiness, productivity, and wildlife appeal make it a standout choice for various landscapes. Understanding how to grow mulberry tree specimens like this can lead to a rewarding gardening experience.

• Abundant Fruit Production: Enjoy a generous harvest of sweet, dark red to black mulberries, perfect for fresh eating, jams, jellies, pies, or wine. The berries ripen over an extended period, providing a continuous supply.
• Ecological Value: As a native fruit tree, it supports local wildlife, providing essential food for birds, squirrels, and other animals, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.
• Shade and Aesthetic Appeal: Growing to a mature height of 30-60 feet, the Red Mulberry provides excellent shade, making it a valuable addition to any yard or park setting. Its broad leaves and attractive form enhance landscape beauty.
• Hardiness and Adaptability: Thrives in USDA Zones 4-8, demonstrating remarkable resilience to various climates and soil types. It can tolerate both full sun and partial shade, making site selection more flexible.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the morus rubra bare root tree requires minimal care, making it an ideal choice for gardeners seeking a productive yet undemanding fruit-bearing plant.
• Soil Improvement: Its extensive root system can help with soil erosion control and adds organic matter to the soil as leaves decompose.
• Fast Growth Rate: Red Mulberries are known for their relatively fast growth, meaning you can enjoy the benefits of fruit and shade sooner than with some other tree species.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red mulberry tree begins with proper planting and continues with consistent, yet minimal, attention. Understanding how to grow mulberry tree successfully ensures a bountiful harvest. When your morus rubra bare root tree arrives, it’s crucial to plant it as soon as possible. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root system and just as deep, ensuring the root collar is level with the ground. Spread the roots out evenly in the hole, backfill with soil, and water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. For optimal growth, choose a site with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight.

The Red Mulberry thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, but it can tolerate partial shade. While adaptable to various moist soils, it performs best in well-drained, fertile loamy soil. During its first year, consistent watering is vital to help the tree establish a strong root system. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from watering during prolonged dry periods, especially when fruiting. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer designed for fruit trees. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches and to maintain an open canopy for better air circulation and fruit production. Watch out for common pests like borers and scale, and diseases such as cankers, addressing them promptly to maintain tree health. This fruit tree zones 4-8 is quite robust, but good cultural practices will ensure its longevity and productivity.

Size & Details

This offering is for one red mulberry tree, supplied as a bare root plant, measuring approximately 12-24 inches in height. Bare root trees are typically shipped dormant, making them easy to handle and plant. Upon planting, the tree will quickly begin to develop its root system and foliage in the spring. At maturity, the morus rubra bare root tree can reach impressive heights of 30-60 feet (9-18 meters) with a spread of similar proportions, forming a broad, rounded canopy. Its growth rate is considered medium to fast, meaning you can expect to see significant development in just a few years. It begins bearing fruit within 3-5 years after planting, with peak production occurring as the tree matures. This fruit tree zones 4-8 is a long-lived specimen, providing decades of delicious berries and ecological benefits.

The mature size and spreading habit make it an excellent choice for a shade tree or a prominent feature in a large yard or orchard. The Red Mulberry’s adaptability to various soil types and its hardiness in a wide range of USDA zones make it a reliable choice for many gardeners looking for a resilient and productive fruit-bearing tree.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this red mulberry tree get? A: This particular tree starts at 12-24 inches tall. At maturity, a red mulberry tree (Morus rubra) typically reaches heights of 30-60 feet (9-18 meters) with a similar spread, providing substantial shade and a large fruit yield.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The red mulberry tree is an outdoor plant. It is a deciduous tree that requires a period of dormancy and is best suited for planting directly in the ground in USDA Zones 4-8 to thrive and produce fruit.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal growth and fruit production, a morus rubra bare root tree requires full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate partial shade, but fruiting may be reduced.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the red mulberry tree is considered relatively easy to care for once established. It is adaptable to various soil conditions and climates within its hardiness zones, making it a good choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Learning how to grow mulberry tree is straightforward.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: This product is a morus rubra bare root tree, meaning it will arrive dormant, without soil around its roots. This is a common and effective method for shipping deciduous trees, ensuring they are ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a bare root mulberry tree? A: The best time to plant a morus rubra bare root tree is in late winter or early spring, while the tree is still dormant. This allows the tree to establish its root system before the stress of summer heat.
• Q: Will this fruit tree survive winter in my zone? A: This fruit tree zones 4-8 is hardy and well-suited for winter conditions within those USDA zones. It is naturally adapted to cold climates and will go dormant in winter, resuming growth in spring.
• Q: What kind of soil does a red mulberry tree prefer? A: The red mulberry tree thrives in various moist, well-drained soils. While adaptable, it performs best in fertile loamy soils. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.
• Q: How long until it starts producing fruit? A: A red mulberry tree typically begins to produce fruit within 3-5 years after planting, with production increasing significantly as the tree matures. Expect a delicious harvest from this native fruit tree.
• Q: Can I prune this tree? A: Yes, pruning is beneficial for a red mulberry tree. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches, and to shape the tree for better air circulation and light penetration, which can improve fruit yield.