Morus alba seeds grow into the white mulberry — one of the most historically important trees in human civilisation, native to the temperate biome of central China, from where it has been cultivated for silk production for at least 4,500 years and is now naturalised across the temperate and subtropical world. The leaves of M. alba are the sole natural food source of the silkworm (Bombyx mori) — a relationship that gave rise to one of the most significant commercial and cultural phenomena in human history: silk and the Silk Road. Branches were documented as silkworm food in China from at least 2500 BC. The small, sweet berries ripen from white to pale pink to deep red, and are consumed fresh, dried and made into drinks and medicines. Important in Traditional Chinese Medicine — leaves, fruit, bark and root bark all have documented therapeutic uses. Now widely naturalised and invasive in many countries. Family Moraceae.Full sun; very fast-growing; extremely adaptable to a very wide range of soils; cold-hardy; drought-tolerant. Sole food source of the silkworm (Bombyx mori) — 4,500 years of silk production in China Central China — temperate biome; cultivated globally for millennia; now naturalised worldwide White to pale pink berries; sweet flavour; consumed fresh, dried and in drinks Important TCM medicinal tree; leaves, fruit, bark and root bark all documented therapeutically Full sun; fast-growing; cold-hardy; drought-tolerant; widely adaptable; Family Moraceae Morus alba is the white mulberry — the tree whose leaves feed the silkworm and whose cultivation in central China gave rise to the Silk Road and transformed world history, now one of the most widespread and adaptable fruit trees in the temperate and subtropical world. IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
