Clean the pulp off mulberry seed, then fall-sow or give it 30 to 90 days of moist cold. Seedlings take years to fruit and will not match a named parent.
Clean the seed, then give it a cold spell
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Clean | Mash the fruit, soak, skim pulp and empty seed | Sowing whole berries as-is |
| Cold | Fall sow, or 30 to 90 days in moist sand at 33 to 41°F | A dry fridge packet with no moisture |
| Time to fruit | Often about 10 years | Expecting a crop the second summer |
| Named trees | Take a cutting for Pendula or a known fruit | Seed for a cultivar match |
Fall sowing skips the bag; spring sowing follows a moist chill. [1]
Can I grow mulberry from seed?
Yes. Clean the pulp, then fall-sow or moist-chill 30 to 90 days. Seedlings take years to fruit and will not come true.
How to sow mulberry seed
Red mulberry (M. rubra) is easily grown from seed; the same clean-and-chill steps cover white and black. [2]
- Mash ripe fruit in water. Soak, then skim pulp and empty seed. Dry the filled seed if you will store it cold.
- Sow outdoors in fall without extra chilling, or bag the seed in moist sand for 30 to 90 days at 33 to 41°F and sow in spring.
- Cover lightly. Keep the surface moist until seedlings show. Germination is often 12 to 50 percent — sow extra.
- Grow the seedling a season before you plant it out. One-year bare-root plants can go in the ground the next dormant season.
Seedlings vs a named cutting
Mulberry seedlings can take about 10 years to bear; a grafted or cutting-grown plant of a known fruit starts in less than half that. [3][4] A berry from M. alba ‘Pendula’ will not return the weep habit. White-mulberry seedlings can also be weedy — pull extras while they are small.
If you want the fruit you tasted, root a cutting this fall instead of waiting a decade on a seedling.
FAQ
Will seed come true?
No for a named clone such as Pendula. Seedlings vary, and a white-mulberry berry can produce weedy offspring. Take a cutting to keep a known tree.
How long until a seedling fruits?
Often about 10 years, sometimes a little sooner. A cutting or grafted plant fruits in less than half that.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] USDA Forest Service -
https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/red-mulberry - [2] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/morus-rubra/ - [3] GrowVeg -
https://www.growveg.com/plants/us-and-canada/how-to-grow-mulberry/ - [4] Harvest to Table -
https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-mulberries/
This note is part of Morus Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors