Mulberry bushes/trees

[Miss Lily]

I was thinking of buying one to feed my silkies (when I can find some again) as the chow is rather expensive. What I want to know is - is the mulberry tree/bush deciduous? If so, can I freeze the leaves for use in the winter? I found one rather tatty looking tree of the 'white' variety in a local garden centre - is that one ok or should I look for a 'black' one?

 

[fluxlizard]

I don't know anything about the varieties but I am fortunate in that I live where these trees grow wild. Yes- they drop their leaves for winter just like other trees here.

I don't have experience with the worms, but I have given a bunch of leaves to a friend once who raised the worms on them no problem.

I have read that you can blanch the leaves and then dry them between paper towels and then put them in the freezer for the winter (feeding captive reptiles, frye).

You can also feed the leaves and berries directly to lizards that will eat them and they are very good for them (I am lazy to grow the worms but I feed the leaves and berries to my bearded dragons and iguanas and tortoises. The berries also are eagerly accepted by small children and adult humans LOL).

 

[reptoman]

White mulberries are the one for silkies. I have one in my backyard and I do freeze the leaves to keep them through the winter for feeding. Here is another post with a link to an article about freezing mulberry leaves.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/those-who-have-silkworkms-their-own-mulberry-tree-31456/

 

[Miss Lily]

Thank you so much! I will continue my search for a bush/tree now then!

 

[oneshot]

Being a gardening idiot, can anyone tell me if Mulberry trees can grow in Massachusetts?

Or are they a warm-weather tree?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[reptoman]

Being a gardening idiot, can anyone tell me if Mulberry trees can grow in Massachusetts?

Or are they a warm-weather tree?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

I grew up just outside Detroit MI and we had tons of mulberry growing wild there. I am sure they would do ok in mass.

 

[chamelisa]

I was thinking of buying one to feed my silkies (when I can find some again) as the chow is rather expensive. What I want to know is - is the mulberry tree/bush deciduous? If so, can I freeze the leaves for use in the winter? I found one rather tatty looking tree of the 'white' variety in a local garden centre - is that one ok or should I look for a 'black' one?

Hi Tiff,

I bought a Mulberry tree last year. It's the white mulberry that flowers. I grow mine in a very large pot because they can take a lot of room. My tree is bare all winter but starts leafing out as soon as it gets warmer. I'm feeding my silkworms just on the leaves that are produced from this tree. If I run out, the school down the street has huge Mulberry trees lining the fence.

Overall, I think it's a good idea. And as far as I know, fruiting or non-fruiting mulberry trees work.