Growing mulberry
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Most cultivated mulberries are self-fertile (and often fruit without any pollination).
Growing it
Zones 5-10 depending on species. Fast, generous, and messy - site it away from paths and cars. 'Dwarf Everbearing' suits containers.
Where mulberry grows best
Hardy in zones 5-10, and it needs enough winter cold - about 100-400 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Will you get enough chill?
Mulberry needs roughly 100–400 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 mulberry grow in?
Mulberry grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-10.
How many chill hours does mulberry need?
Roughly 100-400 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.
Is mulberry self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Most cultivated mulberries are self-fertile (and often fruit without any pollination).
Which states can grow mulberry?
Mulberry suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and 18 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.