Mulberry
trees range in size from a small rapidly growing bush to a huge ancient
50 foot tree. They are of the genus "morus"
Mulberries
are black, red or white. Commonly cultivated varieties are black
mulberry (Morus nigra), red mulberry (Morus rubra), and white mulberry (Morus
alba). There are about 10 or so varieties.
Mulberry trees do grow in the
UK. They take a long time to grow, so plant one now for your
grandchildren! Some years they don't give much fruit, but every three or
so years you get an exceptional crop. The fruits look like an elongated
blackberry. When you pick them, they almost melt in your hands and you
get covered in red juice. They wouldn't travel well, which is probably
why you never find them in the shops, except for the dried white Persian
mulberries
from places like Turkey. They are so delicious fresh.
The
mulberry is steeped in history and culture.
In the
17th century, the white mulberry bushes were used to feed silk worms.
The caterpillars of the silk worm moths fed on the leaves and then spun
themselves cocoons. Silk was obtained by unwinding these cocoons.
The
origins of the nursery rhyme "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" are
lost in history. It's ironic that children are more likely to remember
the rhyme than the taste of the fruit!
The
mulberry is immortalised in Vincent van Gogh's famous painting of a
white mulberry tree in the autumn " The
Mulberry Tree". I love both the painting and the fruit!
Links
"The mulberry’s levels of antioxidants are 79%
higher than blueberries and 24% more than those found in cranberries."
Founded in
1968, the California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) is the largest amateur
fruit-growing organization in the world. The link below gives the
botanical information for mulberry.
"Easy to grow trees which produce regular crops of
long blackberry-like fruits of good flavour. The named varieties start
fruiting after 2-3 years. Always in great demand!"
