Morus cathayana
Hemsl.
Hua Sang
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Chuangzao, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Chuangzao
Description
Morus cathayana is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Edible Uses
Tea. Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is about 25mm in diameter. Leaves - cooked. A tea is made from the leaves.
Distribution
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea
Where It Grows
TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng (north), Guangdong Sheng (north), Hebei Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng (south), Shaanxi Sheng (south), Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng (northwest), Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku)
Cultivation
Prefers a warm well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position. Two trees at Kew in mid-July 1994 had reasonable crops of fairly long thin fruits with a pleasant flavour. Mulberries have brittle roots and so need to be handled with care when planting them out. Any pruning should only be carried out in the winter when the plant is fully dormant because mulberries bleed badly when cut. Ideally prune only badly placed branches and dead wood. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagation
The seed germinates best if given 2 - 3 months cold stratification. Sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if possible, otherwise in February in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in the first spring, though it sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Plant out in spring. A good percentage take, though they sometimes fail to thrive. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 25 - 30cm with a heel of 2 year old wood, autumn or early spring in a cold frame or a shady bed outside. Bury the cuttings to threequarters of their depth. Layering in autumn.
