Everbearing Mulberry: A Powerhouse in the Permaculture Food Forest

The everbearing mulberry (Morus alba) is more than just a tree; it’s a vibrant contributor to any food forest. With its sweet, juicy berries available from summer until early fall, this tree is not only a vital resource for wildlife but also provides delicious fruit for fresh eating, drying, or preserving into jams and jellies. If you want to enrich your garden with this versatile tree, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will equip you with everything necessary for propagating, growing, and making the most of this extraordinary tree in your food forest.

🌱 Propagation: How to Grow Your Own

Everbearing mulberries are surprisingly easy to propagate — no fancy greenhouse setup required.

1. Cuttings (Preferred Method)

Take hardwood cuttings in late winter or softwood cuttings in late spring.
Cut sections 6–10 inches long, with at least 3–4 nodes.
Dip in rooting hormone (optional but improves success).
Plant in moist, well-drained soil or a mix of perlite and compost.
Keep cuttings humid until roots form — a plastic dome or bag works wonders.
Once rooted, harden them off before transplanting.

2. Grafting

Used when propagating specific cultivars onto hardier rootstock.
Cleft grafting in early spring is effective.

3. Seeds

Not recommended for everbearing types, as they may not breed true.
However, seeds can still be used for rootstock or experimentation.

🌎 Growing Zones and Climate Adaptability

Everbearing mulberries are well-suited for USDA Zones 5–10, depending on the species and cultivar.

Morus alba 'Everbearing': More cold-tolerant, hardy to Zone 5.

They thrive in full sun and can tolerate a variety of soils, though they prefer loamy, well-drained sites. Once established, they are drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and highly productive.

🌳 Integration in a Food Forest

Everbearing mulberries play multiple roles in a permaculture system:

1. Canopy or Sub-Canopy Tree

Can be pruned to shape depending on space and desired function.
Provides partial shade for shade-tolerant species like currants, comfrey, or mushrooms.

2. Dynamic Accumulator

Deep roots mine nutrients from subsoil, which return to the top layer via leaf drop and mulch.

3. Wildlife and Livestock Support

Attracts pollinators and birds (some growers net trees to preserve fruit).
Leaves are nutritious fodder for rabbits, goats, and chickens.

4. Soil Building and Microclimate Creation

Leaf drop adds organic matter.
Provides wind protection and moderates local temperature for more sensitive plants.

🍇 Uses for Mulberries

The fruit of the everbearing mulberry is a nutrient-rich delight — and they just keep coming, often fruiting several times per year in warm climates.

Culinary Uses

Fresh eating: Sweet, juicy, and mild — kids (and adults) love them.
Preserves: Excellent for jams, jellies, and syrups.
Baking: Perfect for muffins, cobblers, and pies.
Fermentation: Can be turned into mulberry wine or vinegar.

Medicinal and Nutritional

High in vitamin C, iron, and antioxidants.
Traditional medicine has used mulberries for blood sugar regulation and anti-inflammatory properties.

Permaculture Tip: Harvest quickly! Mulberries ripen fast and drop when overripe. Use tarps to catch them if you’re harvesting at scale or feeding livestock.

🌿 Final Thoughts

The everbearing mulberry is a true permaculture multi-tasker — providing food, forage, shelter, and fertility all in one. Whether you’re designing a backyard food forest or a larger regenerative system, this tree deserves a central spot.

With its resilience, productivity, and ecological benefits, the everbearing mulberry embodies permaculture principles: care for the earth, care for people, and fair share. Grow one, and you’ll be harvesting abundance for years to come.