Whitey White Mulberry Tree
The Whitey mulberry is said to have originated in Central to Eastern China where is was brought into the Mideast and Europe many centuries ago. When comparing the white mulberry taste with the red or black mulberry, the white berries contain the most sugar and are sweetest. The Whitey mulberry may have been brought into America during the Colonial period to grow fruit and to establish the silk trade, however, the silk trade was doomed to failure, because of competitive prices elsewhere. Whitey Mulberry tree are very variable in tree form and the berry shape and can tower to 80 ft in height. White mulberries are dried to eat during the Winter in the Balkan countries, being made possible by their high sugar content. White mulberry trees can ripen berries as early as April followed by cultivars of red and black mulberries that ripen last. The Whitey mulberry usually grows about 2 inches long, and delicious crops are produced in great quantities. The white mulberry tree is the earliest to ripen, beginning in April and lasting through June, producing enough berries for a very large family. The Greeks planted white mulberry trees in close proximity to sacred temples, where the berries fed the worshipers. White mulberry trees are extremely productive and can survive cold temperatures of minus 25F and grow well in gardens as well as in containers.