Fruit Tree
Black Mulberry (fruiting)
Morus nigra · Moraceae
Also called: Black Mulberry, Persian Mulberry, True Black Mulberry
Black Mulberry (fruiting) (Morus nigra) is a moderate-water fruit tree well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun for best fruiting. Expect greenish (inconspicuous catkins) blooms Inconspicuous greenish catkins in spring.
Black Mulberry (fruiting) at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun for best fruiting; tolerates light afternoon shade in Tucson which reduces heat stress.
- Mature size
- 20-30 ft tall and wide; often a low, broad, gnarled tree, smaller than Morus alba.
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate (slower and smaller than white/fruitless mulberry)
- Bloom
- Greenish (inconspicuous catkins), Inconspicuous greenish catkins in spring; abundant dark red-black berries late spring into summer (May-July).
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy in Tucson (USDA 9a-9b); tolerates frost well, with the least cold-hardiness among mulberries but more than adequate for the low desert.
- Soil
- Adaptable to alkaline, rocky desert soils with adequate drainage; tolerates a range of conditions.
- Native range
- Native to western Asia / Iran region. Not native to Arizona.
- Best used as
- Edible berries (rich, tart-sweet, best fresh flavor of the mulberries), Small shade / fruit tree, Edible landscaping, Bird-attracting tree
- Wildlife
- Berries are highly attractive to birds.
- Toxicity
- Ripe fruit is edible and non-toxic. Unripe fruit and the milky sap can cause mild stomach upset/skin irritation; foliage is not seriously toxic to pets. The fruit stains heavily (avoid over patios/walkways).
How to grow Black Mulberry (fruiting) in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Needs regular deep irrigation in Tucson's heat, especially while fruiting; water deeply every 7-10 days in summer to prevent leaf scorch and fruit drop, reducing in winter dormancy. More moisture-demanding than the larger fruitless shade mulberries.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light to moderate feeder; one or two applications of balanced or nitrogen fertilizer in spring is plenty. Avoid heavy late-season nitrogen.
Pruning & care
Prune in winter dormancy to control size and shape and remove deadwood; Morus nigra fruits on both old and new wood and stays smaller, so only moderate pruning is needed. Avoid heavy bleeding cuts in active growth.
Notes
IMPORTANT FOR TUCSON: Morus nigra is the FRUITING black mulberry and is generally permitted because it is female/low-pollen. This is distinct from the large male FRUITLESS mulberry (Morus alba), whose heavy windborne pollen was BANNED for planting in Pima County and the City of Tucson under allergy ordinances. Confirm you are sourcing true fruiting Morus nigra (or a named female fruiting cultivar), not a pollen-shedding male. Self-fertile; productive and well-suited to low-desert home orchards with regular water.
Sources: Pima County / City of Tucson mulberry (pollen) ordinance; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; California Rare Fruit Growers (Morus nigra culture)