Fruitless Mulberry Tree Pros and Cons

The fruitless mulberry tree is a wonderful option to consider when selecting a beautiful tree for the garden. Morus alba, the botanical name of the fruitless mulberry tree family, contains 10 to 16 different varieties of deciduous trees. This tree, which does not bear fruit and is sometimes named as a male tree of the white mulberry, has been used in China to feed silkworm larvae for more than four thousand years. 

For the same reason, the tree was brought to North America: to give silkworms an organic food source for a possible silkworm industry. In spite of the fact that the tree's designated industry never fulfilled its potential, it became a great substitute for fruiting mulberry trees, particularly for landscape purposes. When it comes to mulberry trees, the fruitless variety is a better option than the fruit-bearing variety for two main reasons: First, it does not leave behind the fallen fruits that can stain the ground, and second, the seeds are not eaten by birds, preventing the tree from becoming an invasive species.

The fruitless mulberry tree grows to a height of 20 to 60 feet, with a trunk as wide as 45 feet. Its crown is extremely dense and rounded, and the tree itself can reach a height of 20 to 60 feet. It provides dense, shaded foliage and is a beautiful inclusion to any landscape. Some of the variants found within this variety have the drooping appearance of a giant creeper. The juvenile branches may have an orange tone, which disappears as the tree ages. Even though the tree loses its leaves in temperate climates, it can also stay green in tropical climates.

Despite being a large tree, the fruitless type can be pruned to have a core leader with a short, thick trunk and a crown comprised of lateral branches.

Fruitless Mulberry Tree Pros

As a garden landscaping tree, a fruitless mulberry tree is a good option. It is possible to cultivate the fruitless mulberry in most regions of North America; in fact, trees that were planted on beaches in Southern California have flourished after being exposed to alkaline soil, high temperatures, air pollution, and brief periods of drought. It also grows very quickly. A fruitless mulberry can reach a height of 20 feet and a width of 20 feet in just three years when grown in warm areas.

Furthermore, the mulberry tree's fruit is not the only component that may be beneficial to human health. The leaves of this plant have a long history of usage in traditional medicine, where they have been utilized as a natural remedy for a wide range of ailments. The leaves, on the other hand, are packed with nutrients.

Fruitless Mulberry Tree Cons

Fruitless mulberry trees grow quickly and reach a size that provides heavy shade and broad, lateral branches for climbing. However, they are susceptible to disease and have shallow roots, making them difficult to manage. 

Mulberry leaf spot is a fungal disease that affects the fruitless mulberry's foliage. Black patches will first appear on the leaves. If you do not do anything to stop it, the mulberry leaf spot will cause abnormal leaves to grow, which will quickly turn yellow and fall off.

Armillaria root rot, often known as oak root fungus, damages mulberry cultivars, especially the fruitless mulberry. The tree will have stunted, discolored leaves that fall off quickly instead of a healthy canopy, which is the first sign of this rot.