Mulberry trees are one of my favorite trees. Mulberry trees can produce tons of food for your family, livestock, and wildlife and above all that they are a great landscape tree.
Why Grow Illinois Everbearing Mulberry Trees
Illinois Everbearing Mulberry trees are the king of all mulberry trees in the Northeast. Illinois Everbearing is by far the best tasting mulberry I have tried. Fruit is a complex combination of sweet and slightly tart. Fruit makes a great snack fresh and can also be dried or frozen. Their large (1.5” long and 1/2” around) delicious fruit resembles a long blackberry.
Illinois Everbearing produces fruit from mid June through September in western NJ. They grow in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 and thrive in most soil types, meaning they can grow in over half the country. Mulberries do well in full sun or partial sun, give them at least 6 or more hours to get fruit production. From my experience trees in full sun will generally produce a larger fruit set that trees in partial shade.
Low Maintenance Fruit
Everyone who knows me knows I don’t baby my plants. Illinois Everbearing Mulberry trees are on my list of bullet proof plants! They are pest and disease here at Northeast Edible Fruit Farm and Nursery. No sprays and no heavy pruning is needed. We spread a few shovels of compost over the root zone on top of the soil every year or two to add fertility. We have found this shot of fertility benefits fruit size and flavor.
Deer and other wildlife will nibble on mulberry trees at establishment so protection is a good idea. Tree tubes, fencing, or a watch dog will do the trick. Once established they are almost impossible to kill.
Illinois Everbearing is self fertile so you only need one tree to produce fruit. Which is a good thing because mulberry trees can get very large. Mature Illinois Everbearing Mulberry trees can reach 50-75 feet tall and spread almost as wide. They can be kept smaller by pruning, it is easier to pick the fruit of small, shrub sized trees. People talk of mulberries as a weed tree or call it invasive. This is usually because a poorly placed tree will stain driveways or cars with reddish black mulberry stains.
Ready to Plant in Your Yard?
I relish native fruit producing trees that are so hardy and tough. Imagine an apple tree that didn’t need to be tended that just produced 100’s of pounds of fruit each year? Would people call them invasive or would they see it as a blessing? In my eyes mulberry trees are a blessing. Illinois Everbearing Mulberry trees are one of my favorite trees, if you have the space consider growing one in your yard too!
If you are looking to buy Illinois Everbearing Mulberry trees for your property check out our store. We ship Mulberry trees in the spring and fall each year.