SPECIFICATIONS:
- Projected height and spread: 10–15 ft. without pruning; responds well to hard annual pruning and can be kept much smaller; can also be trained as a large shrub
- Growth habit: Upright to spreading deciduous tree or large shrub (Morus nigra); self-fruitful; moderate growth rate
- Light requirements: Full sun; 6–8 hours minimum for best fruit set and flavor development
- Fertilizer requirements: Low; a light annual application of balanced fertilizer or compost in spring is sufficient; established trees are largely self-sustaining
- Water requirements: Regular watering when young; moderately drought-tolerant once established; well-draining soil required; dry-summer conditions improve flavor and reduce disease risk
DESCRIPTION:
Black Beauty is a selection of Morus nigra — the true black mulberry — widely considered to produce the finest-flavored fruit of any mulberry species. Large, shiny berries are a deep, lustrous black when fully ripe, with a rich, intensely sweet flavor balanced by just enough tartness to make them genuinely complex and satisfying. The fruit is exceptional fresh off the tree, and equally excellent dried for snacking or used in jams and baked goods. The tree grows quickly to about 15 ft. but responds well to hard annual pruning and can be maintained considerably smaller; it can also be grown as a large, attractive shrub.
Black Beauty performs best in dry-summer climates — exactly the conditions that define much of Alameda County — where lower humidity reduces susceptibility to fungal issues that can affect Morus nigra in wetter regions. Its very low chill requirement (200 hours or less) means it reliably sets fruit across the full range of East Bay microclimates. Like all mulberries, it is self-fruitful, virtually pest-free, and an excellent wildlife plant — birds are extremely attracted to the fruit, making it a wonderful addition to a pollinator and wildlife-friendly garden. Plant away from patios and walkways, as ripe fruit that falls or is dropped by birds will stain surfaces. A long-lived, deeply rewarding tree that only gets better with age.
