Description
Tea’s Weeping Mulberry is grown as much for its form as its fruit. Long, flexible branches naturally cascade downward, creating a living curtain of foliage and fruit that can be shaped to fit a wide range of garden styles.
How the height works (and why it’s simpler than most people think): Tea’s Weeping Mulberry is trained to the height you want. When the tree is young, you select one strong upright shoot and gently tie or tape it to a stake as it grows. Continue guiding that leader upward until it reaches your desired height—then stop training upward and allow the branches to naturally weep down. That’s it.
If left untrained, the tree will begin weeping low and form a ground-hugging umbrella. If trained upward for a season or two, it can be shaped to weep from head height or higher. This flexibility is what makes Tea’s Weeping Mulberry so versatile.
The fruit is dark and sweet when ripe, similar to other black mulberries, and ripens in early summer. While the tree is often planted for its ornamental form, it is fully capable of producing enjoyable fruit once established.
Overview
- Weeping mulberry with dramatic cascading branches
- Height fully controlled by simple training when young
- Sweet, dark fruit for fresh eating
- Cold-hardy and vigorous
- Self-fertile
Growing Details
Latin Name: Morus alba ‘Pendula’ (Tea’s Weeping)
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5–9
Rootstock: Russian mulberry (Morus alba tatarica)
Bearing Age: 1–3 years
Size at Maturity: Variable; height is determined by training, with branches cascading downward
Flowering: Spring; inconspicuous catkins (not showy)
Ripening Time: Early summer; timing varies by climate
Pollination: Self-fertile
Pests & Diseases: Generally low-maintenance with few serious issues
Yield: Moderate once established
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: The most common mistake with weeping mulberries is assuming the height is fixed. Tea’s Weeping is meant to be trained—guide it up, then let it fall.
- Regional Insight: Performs well across a wide range of climates; full sun improves vigor, fruiting, and canopy density.
- Best used as a focal tree where its form can be appreciated.
- Fallen fruit can stain—avoid planting directly over hardscape.
- Explore more mulberries in our collection: Mulberry Trees
