Morus alba Nana - White Mulberry

Morus alba 'Nana' is a dwarf form of the White Mulberry, usually grafted onto a stem. It then forms a small deciduous tree with a dense, wide, and flattened crown, whose lush foliage turns yellow in autumn. There are different clones in cultivation, among which is this male variety that does not produce fruits. The dwarf mulberry is suitable for small gardens and container gardening. Its robustness allows it to thrive in most regions.

This dwarf common mulberry is sometimes marketed under the name Morus alba 'Globosa'. Its exact origin is unknown, but it has been cultivated since 1878. This tree belongs to the Moraceae family and produces latex in its tissues, like all members of its family. The species, Morus alba, is native to Mongolia and India. The White Mulberry is monoecious: it develops male or female flowers in different places on the same plant in April. Its insignificant flowering consists of male or female catkins composed of tiny green-yellow flowers. There are numerous ornamental cultivars that can be sterile or fertile.

The male Morus alba 'Nana' has a vertical trunk covered with a brown-grey, channelled bark. This is the rootstock, which can measure 1.50 m to 2 m in height. This trunk supports a wide, dense, rounded, and flattened crown, measuring approximately 1 m in height and 1.50 m in width at maturity. The overall height will be between 2.50 m and 3 m. The stems are rigid and branched with short internodes. The deciduous leaves are broadly ovate or even round, 4 to 7 cm long. They have a roughly and irregularly toothed edge and are entire or more often divided into 3 thick, slightly leathery lobes. They have a shiny texture and are a beautiful light green in spring, becoming darker in summer, and quickly turning yellow and falling in autumn. The root system of the White Mulberry is both taproot and running and does not like to be transplanted.

Morus alba 'Nana' grows in well-loosened and well-drained soil, even if calcareous and dry in summer, in a sunny location. It tolerates pollution well but not coastal areas and salt spray. Its beautiful shape and small size make it suitable for small gardens. It makes a beautiful specimen, planted alone in the middle of a lawn or a dedicated small bed. At its base, you can plant spring bulbs (Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths...) or cyclamens. It will also grow in a container on the terrace.