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Those of us of a certain age may remember the nursery rhyme, "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush." According to historians, this nursery rhyme was often sung by Victorian era female prisoners as they held hands and danced around a mulberry tree while exercising at His Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It is said this tree died in 2017 and was removed in 2019, but not before many cuttings were taken and grown elsewhere.
If prison lore doesn't pique your interest, perhaps you would enjoy the stories of the mulberry tree in the garden of William Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. This tree and a second home built on Shakespeare's home site became a much-frequented tourist destination. So much so, the annoyed owner at the time, The Rev. Frances Gastrell had both taken down. It is said souvenirs made from this famous mulberry tree became popular in 1769 and several can still be enjoyed at the museum curated by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
If you prefer to cultivate your own mulberry history, consider planting a native red mulberry, Morus rubra, in your garden. This deciduous tree is a fast grower and can reach 40 feet tall. It has dark gray-brown bark and deep green, heart-shaped leaves. The leaves, which turn yellow in the fall, have a rough top-surface and a soft underside with tiny hairs. Its tubular, green to yellow flowers bloom in the spring and make way for its very desirable fruit.
This deep red to black edible fruit is known to be showy, fragrant, sweet and juicy. It attracts butterflies, birds, squirrels and other wildlife, not to mention humans, who enjoy the fruit straight from the tree or made into jellies, jams or wine.
The fruit is also known to stain hardscapes, a characteristic not so pleasing to homeowners. However, the mulberry tree is not fussy about soil type. It will thrive in infertile, sandy soil and is drought tolerant, as well as moderately wind resistant. It prefers full sun to light shade and requires little maintenance after it is established. Light pruning will keep it healthy. Be advised, use gloves when pruning since the white sap from the tree may be irritating to some.
When shopping for a native red mulberry tree, you may come across a white mulberry tree, a native tree to China which grows to 60 feet. This variety produces a sweet fruit; however, it is not as flavorful as the red or black mulberry tree. It is grown widely in China as a host plant for silk worms and its utility for silk production.
The black mulberry tree is native to Western Asia and the Middle East. Although the fruit from the black mulberry is thought to be superior, the tree prefers a much drier climate. In Florida, it will grow only as a bush. While cultivating your mulberry story, it may be best to "go native" and choose the red mulberry tree.
Happy gardening, cheers!
Deborah Haggett is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit us at gardenclubofcapecoral.com.
References
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Tree. (2010, September 27). Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/blogs/here-we-go-round-mulberry-tree/#:~:text=The%20mulberry%20tree%20was%20the,some%20time%20in%20the%201750s
Morus rubra (Common Mulberry, Mulberry, Red Mulberry) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/morus-rubra/#:~:text=The%20Red%20mulberry%20has%20heart,glabrous%20on%20the%20upper%20surfaces.
Mulberry – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (n.d.). https://gardeningsolutions.ifas. ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/mulberry.html
Robertawrites. (2021, June 28). Dark Origins - Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. Writing to Be Read. https://writingtoberead.com/2021/06/30/dark-origins-here-we-go-round-the-mulberry-bush/