The Wonders of the Mulberry Tree

Mulberry Trees evoke a love-hate response from their owners. They are great shade trees with beautiful shape, but their berries can either be a messy disaster for their owners or a wonderful delight.

The Mulberry or Morus is a genus of 10-16 species of deciduous trees native to warm subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Mulberries grow quickly when young and then slow down once they achieve maturity. A mulberry rarely exceeds 33 to 49 feet in height.

The mulberry has been known to mankind since thousands of years. The use of the tree has also been important throughout history, whether it is in China where the leaves are used to feed the silkworms in order to enhance silk production or for the Romans who used the leaves to treat various diseases. The mulberry is also acknowledged in mythology and folklore. According to a German folklore, the fruits of mulberry trees are associated with evil, as it was believed that the devil uses the roots of this tree to polish his boots.


The fruit of a mulberry is edible and has been used in pies, tarts, and even wines or cordials. There are three types of fruit, the black mulberry, white mulberry and red. The white mulberry is an east Asian species and its leaves are the preferred feedstock for silkworms, making them popular in Asia. In traditional Chinese medicine, the fruit is used to treat prematurely grey hair, to "tonify" the blood, and treat constipation and diabetes. The bark of the mulberry is used to treat cough, wheezing, edema, and to promote urination.

A mature mulberry plant contains significant amounts of resveratrol, particularly in stem bark. The fruit and leaves are sold in various forms as nutritional supplements. Raw fruit and green parts of the plant have a white sap that is intoxicating and mildly hallucinogenic.

The mulberry is also known for its Anthocyanins or pigments which are used as natural food colorants. Anthocyanin content depends on climate, area of cultivation, and is particularly higher in sunny climates.

If growing your own mulberries, place your tree where there is full sun and adequate space. Leave close to 15 feet between trees and don't plant them near sidewalks, as the fallen fruit is quite messy. Mulberries like a warm, well-drained soil. Although they are somewhat drought-resistant, mulberries need to be watered in dry seasons. If the roots become too dry, the fruit will drop before ripe.

As for pruning your mulberry, there are no special techniques required after the branches have been trained to a sturdy framework, except to remove dead or overcrowded wood. You can keep your mulberry tree in tidy form by developing a set of main branches, and then pruning laterals to 6 leaves in July in order to develop spurs near the main branches. It is not advisable to prune the trees heavily since the plant is inclined to bleed at the cuts. Cuts of more than two inches in diameter generally do not heal and should be avoided at all cost. The bleeding will be less severe if the tree is pruned while it is dormant.

If you are planting your mulberry just for the sake of shade and are not interested in the fruit, you can plant the 'male' mulberry. Whether you are picking out a mulberry for ornamental value or for its fruit, it is most likely you will enjoy the mulberry tree as thousands of others have over the years.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Selecting The Right Tree For You

Spring is nearly upon us and as you begin to get the urge to plant trees, first go through a mental checklist of which trees you want to plant followed by a list of how to pick the healthiest tree at the store.

To begin, when deciding upon which tree to place in your yard, ask yourself a few questions. Is the tree for shade, privacy, to block a view or for its fruit or flowers? Second, find out how much room you have for a tree, some trees grow to large sizes and can quickly skyrocket into unseen power lines or get to close to your house or even your neighbors house.

If you are looking for quick shade, you will want to do your homework in regards to what kinds of trees grow the quickest. Hardwood trees grow slower, but on the upside, they live longer. Fast growing trees often require a lot of water and are often brittle and break easy so make sure you have both the water and the room to plant these types of trees.

Next, determine if the tree you are looking at is a deciduous or evergreen. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall and are bare all winter, which allows sunlight into your home and yard. This can be positive if you live in a cold climate. Evergreens retain their foliage year-around. Examples of evergreens are trees such as pines or magnolias.

Once you have determined where to plant your tree and whether it should be an evergreen or deciduous, next find out if it is suitable for where you live, which is called your 'hardiness-zone'. Most home and garden centers can help you determine what type of zone you live in so that you can decide which trees to plant and when. Some trees are more cold-hardy than others. Also ask about the type of soil that the tree grows best in. Many trees do best in rich, moist, woodsy soil that is on the acid side. Others prefer more alkaline soil that tends to be dry because it's not as rich in moisture-holding organic matter. Some trees, like swamp red maples and bald cypress, can handle even truly wet soil.

Another question to ask is whether trees will have thorns or are weedy and messy. This can be a hassle if you have children or animals that could get into the thorns or drag messy leaves and seeds into the house. For instance, sycamores and relatives of the London plane tree drip fuzzy balls, bark, and twigs all over the place. The spiked balls from sweetgum trees and the runaway roots of willows present challenges as well. However, if you choose the right place for some of these less-desirable varieties, you often can overlook their faults and enjoy their virtues instead.

When picking out the tree of your choice, be sure to choose a reputable nursery or garden center. There are many big box stores who have numerous choices but may not have the trained personnel to help you properly pick your plant. Second, pick a healthy tree that has leaves of normal size, shape and color. The tree should be uniformly shaped and be free of spots or broken limbs. Examine the trunk for cankers and split bark, especially after winter.

Examine the roots of the tree if you can. Are the roots growing out of the drainage holes of the container? Small roots can be cut off, but cutting larger roots in order to remove the tree from the container can hurt the tree. Slide the tree's root ball out of the container to determine if the plant has become pot-bound. The root ball should stay together but be somewhat pliable. If the root ball is very hard or many roots are circling the root ball it would be best to purchase a different plant. A mass of circling roots can act as a physical barrier to root growth into the soil after transplanting. The circled roots can also choke and kill the plant as it grows. Examine the root system for small white roots along the exterior of the root ball. Do not buy plant with black roots. These roots were probably damaged by heat, freezing temperatures, excessive fertilizer, or under or over watering.

Going through this simple process of decision making and will help you grow a healthy tree that will give you the most satisfaction.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

The Healing Power of Trees

Trees and plants have been a source of medicine for humans since the beginning of time. As large forests are being cut down, scientists worry about what this means in regards to the potential loss in trees that are ancient and of which science has been hidden.

An herbalist wrote in his dissertation, " Tree remedies tend to be stronger, more sustaining and with more powerful actions than their non-arboreal counterparts. They are often gentle and protective in their physical and emotional effects and, being slow moving, are particularly suitable for treating chronic illness. The circulation of the blood and the integrity of the musculoskeletal and integumentary [skin] systems are particular areas of application.” (Purves, D.A., 2003, p.50)."

When a plant’s physical characteristics indicate its medicinal properties, this theory is called the ‘doctrine of signatures’. For example, with trees, a Willow was traditionally used to treat rheumatism, arthritis and muscular aches. This is due to the fact the Willow is a flexible tree that moves with ease in the wind and it favors growing in damp places. The symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis are exacerbated by damp conditions. So the tree’s characteristics suggest that it will be beneficial for people who need flexibility and the ability to cope with dampness.

Today, scientists have discovered more than 300 plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs) under various stages of discovery. For centuries the Chinese have used the medicinal properties of trees to cure illnesses, as have the Native Americans. For instance, the Chinese make tea made from ginkgo seeds as a cure for respiratory illnesses, such as asthma.  Today it is known that ginkgo leaf extract is great for the treatment of a wide range of aliments such as Alzheimer's and depression. 


The Chinese also use the bark of the Magnolia tree for healing. The bark is called Hou Pu.  Hou Pu is the part of the bark that is highly aromatic and stripped from the stems, branches and roots of the magnolia.  In historic documents, the first mention of magnolia bark as a Traditional Chinese medicinal substance was recorded around 100 C.E.  Acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental medicine still continue to use Hou Pu. It is also used in Chinese herbal formulas to resolve complaints such as abdominal distension and pain, vomiting and diarrhea.  Magnolia bark‘s therapeutic actions include the promotion of qi in the gastrointestinal region.  For the acupuncture patient, this translates to relief of stomach fullness, bloating and discomfort.


As for the Native Americans, traditionally they have used Aspen bark for reducing fever and fighting influenza.

If it isn't the tree specifically that is used, it is often the nut of the tree. For instance the walnut is considered to be an herb in Chinese medicine. Walnuts are said to tone kidneys, strengthen the back and knees, warm and hold qi in lungs and help kidneys to grasp the qi, moisten the intestines and move stool. It is believed to stop asthma. It is also used to help the elderly relieve constipation.


Other tree species notorious throughout time for their healing prosperities include: hawthorn, white willow, lime, elder and oak. Other well known trees used include horse chestnut, eucalyptus, walnut, gingko, cedar, witch hazel, olive, juniper, buckthorn, ash, holly, pine, beech, larch, elm, sweet chestnut, hornbeam, crab apple, aspen, birch and more!

Will humans go back to examining the benefits of trees more closely for medicinal properties or will they discount them as just beautiful additions to the planet?

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.