Description

Morus bombycis 'Fruitless' is medium to large in size, reaching 10 to 15 metres in optimal conditions. It has a globular or oval shape and can have a spreading habit. Its foliage is deciduous, with large, lobed green leaves that are often glossy and rough. Its flowers are small and discreet, white to greenish in colour. The 'Fruitless' variety produces very little fruit, if any at all. It also provides pleasant shade in summer thanks to its dense foliage, making it a popular choice for rest and relaxation areas. Although this variety produces little or no fruit, it can still provide habitat and food for certain species of wildlife, particularly birds and insects.

    Open the audio file

Origin

Morus bombycis 'Fruitless' is a variety of silk mulberry, also known as white mulberry, native to China, where it is also known as Sang Ke, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years for its leaves, which are used as food by silkworms (Bombyx mori). The sterile white mulberry known as 'Fruitless' is the result of a horticultural selection process developed in Japan and Korea to produce less or no fruit, making it an attractive choice for ornamental use in gardens and landscaped areas. This tree, which is very popular in the south of France, is very hardy (down to -28°C) and resistant to heat and drought.