Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
fruitless mulberry
Family Name:
Moraceae
Botanical Name:
Morus alba
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
'Fruitless'
Characteristics:
Compound:
Mor alb Fru
Geographic Origin:
East Asia
Ecozone Origin:
Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The White Mulberry is native to northern China, but now, ranges from southern Canada down throughout the United States except in Nevada (1). The British introduced the plant to America prior to the American Revolution in effort to promote a silkworm industry (1). This effort manifested in legal actions such as mandate of 1624 by the Virginia legislature, that every male resident grow four Mulberry trees (2). These efforts were unsuccessful however due to the cold climates of the northeastern parts of the U.S. and the plant’s susceptibility to diseases in the southern regions of the country (2).
Cultivation Notes:
Morus alba may be propagated from softwood or hardwood cuttings. After cutting, place in A-frame or other structure. In addition, propagation can be achieved by seed or grafting. When the seeds are sown, it is common for them to be washed in camphor water to prevent disease (3). Cuttings of the species are fast growing. Within six weeks a sapling may grow to reach a height of 75 cm(3).
Ethnobotany:
There are a number of medicinal uses that exist for the Fruitless Mulberry. In traditional Chinese medicine, the roots were used for their antibacterial properties in dealing with food poisoning (4). Researchers have recently begun to focus on Albonal A, a compound extract of the bark of Morus alba for its potential uses in curing Leukemia (5). Further, in snake bite cases of the Daboia or Vipera russelii, a leaf extract has been demonstrated to reduce numerous symptoms of the poisoning such as preventing the rapid coagulation of the blood, reducing tissue deterioration, and protecting from edema and hemorrhaging (6).
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Green
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Allergenic
Invasive:
Invasive
Toxicity:
Toxic
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
