Growing che
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Female-only clones set seedless fruit alone but crop more heavily with a male nearby.
Growing it
Zones 6-9. A thorny (or thornless grafted) small tree with maroon fruit tasting of mild mulberry and watermelon. Very few pests; tolerates poor soil.
Where che grows best
Hardy in zones 6-9, and it needs enough winter cold - about 300-500 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.
Will you get enough chill?
Che (Chinese Mulberry) needs roughly 300–500 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does che grow in?
Che (Chinese Mulberry) grows in USDA hardiness zones 6-9.
How many chill hours does che need?
Roughly 300-500 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does che need a pollinator?
Partly self-fertile — crops much better with a partner. Female-only clones set seedless fruit alone but crop more heavily with a male nearby.
Which states can grow che?
Che (Chinese Mulberry) suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts and 12 more, and parts of 20 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.