Elite Suhosine Mulberry Tree
Not a true mulberry (from the Morus genus), but actually a nettle relative that produces a mulberry-esque fruit. Berries are small, mildly sweet, aromatic and have a flavor similar to strawberries. They can be eaten fresh or made into a wine or jam! A very gorgeous ornamental shrub for the quasi-tropical or Asian garden, it even sets fruit in a fair bit of shade. Suhosine Mulberry is caulifloric, meaning that it can produce fruit on thick, woody stems rather than just first or second year growth. A rare adaptation not often seen in the temperate world and a very ornamental one at that! This allows fruit to be pollinated and spread via critters that can’t climb or fly. This plant can experience some winter dieback in zone 8, especially in harsher winters. Be sure to dry it off a bit in September to get it to harden off young growth and new shoots. After the 2021 ice storm and late frosts ours are still producing tons of little fruits!
In the past we grew a self-fertile clone of this species discovered at Cistus Nursery in a seed batch, but are now growing the variety known as Elite that has slightly larger fruit, slightly better flavor, and seems to produce more of the interesting little orange fruits than the variety we were previously growing.
Latin Name: Debregeasia edulis
Site and Soil: Full sun to almost full shade in evenly moist soil.
Rootstock Description: Self-rooted
Hardiness: Root hardy to at least 0º F, but shoots will be damaged at 15-20º F.
Size at Maturity: 8 ft. in height by 6-8 ft. width
Taste: Mildly sweet, aromatic strawberry flavor
Fruit Skin: Orange
Bloom Time: Flowers begin opening in late June and continue all summer
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8b