There are just some fruits that aren’t locally available at grocery stores because of their short shelf life. The mulberry is one of them. The ‘Dwarf Everbearing’ mulberry is an excellent choice as a Florida-Friendly fruit tree for your edible landscape.
Mulberries are native to Florida. They are easy to propagate from cuttings and do well in full sun and well drained soil amended with compost. The ‘Dwarf Everbearing’ variety will go dormant in temperate areas and produce fruits several times each year. Grows in USDA hardiness zones 4-10.
Light pruning is encouraged to keep your mulberry fruits at a reachable height. It is best to prune the plant in between the flushes of fruit to maximize yields. Pruning is also suggested to create a strong framework of branches, since the tree is susceptible to injury during high winds.
One problem with the ‘Dwarf Everbearing’ mulberry tree is too many fruits! If you find yourself with an overabundance you can freeze the fruit for smoothies, make jam, or a mulberry pie!
Learn more about growing mulberries in Florida:
Edible Landscaping Using the Nine Florida Friendly Principles
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP594
Edible Ornamental Landscaping for North-Central Florida
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP618
Florida Native Edible Plants
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/florida-edible-native-plants.html
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