What soil does Black mulberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, calcareous, sandy, clay.

Is Black mulberry hardy?

Hardy down to -18 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H6). In the colder parts of the country (Greater Poland Voivodeship, Holy Cross Voivodeship, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Łódź Voivodeship, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Lublin Voivodeship, Lubusz Voivodeship, Masovian Voivodeship, Opole Voivodeship, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Silesian Voivodeship, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship) it may not survive winter without protection.

Is Black mulberry toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Black mulberry toxic to cats?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to cats.

How far from the house should Black mulberry be planted?

Plant it at least 8.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

How much water does Black mulberry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Black mulberry

Morus nigra

Black mulberry (Morus nigra) is a fruit plant. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -18 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Illustration of Black mulberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

This is the mulberry with the best fruit: large, juicy, sweet-sharp, almost black berries that ripen in succession for weeks from midsummer, and a single tree crops well on its own. It grows more slowly and stays smaller than the white mulberry, in time making a broad, gnarled, often leaning tree with a lot of character. Give it a warm, sunny, sheltered spot, and keep it away from paving, terraces and parking places, because the fallen fruit leaves purple stains on everything.

Watch out for

It is less hardy than the white mulberry: a mature tree takes roughly -18 to -20 °C and young saplings are more tender still, so in the colder parts and frost pockets of Central Europe it can be cut back by frost and is worth protecting in its first winters. Shops often sell black-fruited forms of the white mulberry (Morus alba) or hybrids as "black mulberry": these are tougher and faster, but their fruit is sweeter and blander. The true black mulberry has leaves that are rough above and evenly hairy beneath. Overripe fruit drops by itself, stains paving and clothes, and draws wasps and birds. Old trees tend to lean and then need propping.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 3.5 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -18 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, green

All details

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	3.5 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	6–12 m × 9–15 m
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Soil	Average garden soil, Calcareous, Sandy, Clay
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, green
Harvest	July–September
Self-fertile	yes
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 8.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	800 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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