Mulberry Illinois Everbearing

Illinois Everbearing Mulberry

Morus alba × rubra ‘Illinois Everbearing’ is a fast-growing deciduous fruiting tree valued for its long harvest season and sweet, blackberry-like fruit. It is generally considered a hybrid between white mulberry and red mulberry, producing slender red-to-black fruits about 1–1½ in. long from early summer into late summer or early fall. The tree has a rounded habit, glossy green leaves, and is often one of the better cold-hardy mulberries for home orchards, edible landscapes, and wildlife plantings.

Type: Deciduous fruiting tree
Mature Size: 20–40 ft. wide × 30–40 ft. tall; can be pruned smaller
USDA Zones: 4a–9b
Form: Fast-growing, rounded to spreading tree
Light: Full sun to part sun
Soil / Water: Adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy soil with good drainage; low to medium water once established
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; inconspicuous flowers followed by fruit from late June into late summer or early fall
Wildlife: Fruit attracts birds, small mammals, and other wildlife; flowers may support bees

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for edible landscapes, home orchards, wildlife gardens, informal screens, windbreaks, and large naturalized areas. The fruit is very sweet, juicy, and good for fresh eating, pies, jams, juice, wine, and freezing, but it does not store well and can stain pavement, patios, vehicles, and walkways. It is self-fertile and can bear heavily over a long period.

Care:
Plant in full sun with room to grow and avoid placing it directly beside hardscapes where fallen fruit will be messy. Water regularly during establishment, then only during dry periods. Prune while dormant to shape the tree, manage size, remove crossing limbs, and reduce sap bleeding. Young trees may need staking because rapid growth can make them top-heavy.

Plant type

Fruit Tree

Height

30-40'

Width

20-40'

Hardiness zones

4–9

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Yellow

Fruit color

Tyrian Purple

Attracts

Birds

Soil

Highly Adaptable, Well Drained

Landscape use

Home Orchard, Specimen, Wind Break

Shape

Rounded, Spreading Canopy

Drought tolerant

No