Plants
black mulberry
Morus nigra L.
Family: Moraceae · Genus: Morus
mulberry
Fast-growing fruit tree, tolerates drastic pruning well and coppices readily — ideal as a nurse plant in syntropic systems. Pasini lists it in the high stratum of Tabela 3.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Secondary I
- Ecological role
- Early secondary
- Primary stratum
- High
- Strata
- High, Medium
- Biomass class
- Fertilizer biomass
Environment
- Light requirement
- Full sun
- Water requirement
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Soil pH range
- 5.5–7.5
- Preferred soil texture
- Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
- Hardiness zones
- 5–10
- Frost tolerance
- -12.0 °C
Morphology
- Mature height
- 5–12 m
- Root depth
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Lifespan
- ≥ 30 years
- Time to first harvest
- 18 months
Biomes & climate
- Atlantic Forest Naturalized
- Cerrado Naturalized
- Pampa Naturalized
Köppen classes
- Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
- Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
- Oceanic (Cfb) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Black mulberry takes the High stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.
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📅 Phenology
Flowering months: September, October
Fruiting months: October, November, December
❓ Frequently asked questions
How long until the first harvest of black mulberry?
The first harvest of black mulberry comes around 18 months after planting.
How tall does black mulberry grow?
At maturity, black mulberry reaches 5–12 m tall.
When does black mulberry fruit?
Fruiting of black mulberry occurs in October, November, December.
When does black mulberry flower?
Flowering of black mulberry occurs in September, October.
What stage and stratum does black mulberry occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, black mulberry belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the high stratum.
Functions
Propagation
Cutting, Seed, Air layering
Citations
- Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Conceitos e princípios práticos da agrofloresta sucessional, Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
- Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Morus nigra (height_min_m, height_max_m, ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, frost_tolerance_c, soil_texture_preference, propagation, phenology)
External references
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