Mulberry, Trader Black

Trader Black Mulberry (Morus nigra 'Trader Black')

The Trader Black mulberry is a highly productive variety of Morus nigra, prized for its exceptionally sweet, juicy, and flavorful black berries. This vigorous grower thrives in a variety of conditions and produces an abundant harvest of antioxidant-rich fruit. Trader Black is a long-lived tree that becomes more productive with age, making it an excellent addition to food forests, orchards, and edible landscapes. Its berries are ideal for fresh eating, drying, jams, and winemaking, and they attract both pollinators and wildlife.

Key Characteristics

• Large, Sweet, and Juicy Berries
  Trader Black produces deep purple-black mulberries with a rich, complex sweetness and hints of tartness. The fruit is highly nutritious, packed with antioxidants, and excellent for fresh eating, baking, or preserving.

• Long-Lived and Highly Productive
  A vigorous and long-lived tree, Trader Black produces increasing yields year after year. It can be pruned for easier harvesting or allowed to grow into a majestic shade tree in food forests and orchards.

• Excellent for Pollinators and Wildlife
  The tree’s inconspicuous spring flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, while the late-summer fruit provides an important food source for birds, including orioles, finches, and cedar waxwings.

• Drought-Tolerant and Adaptable to Various Soils
  Trader Black thrives in well-drained soils and is highly drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for sustainable and low-maintenance landscapes.

• Ideal for Food Forests, Hedgerows, and Backyard Orchards
  With its fast growth, abundant fruit, and ecological benefits, Trader Black is perfect for permaculture systems, silvopasture, edible hedgerows, and home orchards.

Product Details

• Native Range: Western Asia and Europe (introduced)
• Plant Life Cycle: Perennial
• Sun Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Medium to dry, well-drained
• Mature Height: 20-30 feet (can be pruned smaller)
• Bloom Time: April - May
• Bloom Color: Greenish-white (inconspicuous)
• Fruit Qualities: Large, deep purple-black berries; sweet and juicy with slight tartness
• Fruit Uses: Fresh eating, drying, jams, baking, smoothies, winemaking
• Fruit Ripening: Late spring to early summer
• Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-10

With its delicious fruit, low-maintenance nature, and benefits for pollinators and wildlife, Trader Black mulberry is a must-have for food forests, backyard orchards, and permaculture designs.