Pakistan mulberry produces very long, sweet, deep-red fruit up to 4 inches, one of the most impressive mulberries for Florida. (Morus macroura 'Pakistan')
Shop this plant: Pakistani Mulberry
Quick Care Summary
- Sun: Full sun, at least 6 hours.
- Soil: Adaptable to sand, limestone and loam as long as it drains.
- Watering: Water new plants 2-3 times a week for the first month, then weekly.
Sun
Full sun, at least 6 hours. Mulberries tolerate light shade but fruit best in sun.
Soil
Adaptable to sand, limestone and loam as long as it drains. Mulberries tolerate alkaline soil well.
Watering
Water new plants 2-3 times a week for the first month, then weekly. Established trees are drought tolerant but fruit is juicier with regular water during the crop.
Fertilizer Schedule for South Florida
Feed with a balanced fertilizer (such as 6-6-6 with minor elements) in early spring, early summer and late summer. Mulberries need little; too much nitrogen gives leaves instead of fruit.
Pruning
Mulberries fruit on new growth and respond well to hard pruning. Prune right after each main crop to keep the plant compact and trigger a new flush of fruiting wood.
Cold Protection
Very cold hardy; established plants handle frost and freezes into the teens. Young plants in pots may need protection in hard freezes.
Container vs. In-Ground
Vigorous and best in the ground, but can be kept in a 20-25 gallon container with hard pruning.
Spacing
Plant 15-20 ft from other trees; it can become a wide tree without pruning.
Flowering and Fruiting Timeline
Typically fruits in the first or second year; main crop February-April.
Harvest
Pick when the long berries turn deep red to purple-black and are soft. Handle gently.
Common Pests and Diseases
Start with organic, low-impact fixes: good airflow, clean-up of fallen fruit and leaves, and soaps or oils before anything stronger. Always follow label directions.
Scale and mealybugs
How to identify: Small bumps or white cottony clusters on stems and leaf undersides, often with sticky honeydew and black sooty mold.
Organic-first treatment: Prune heavily infested twigs, spray horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, and control the ants that farm them.
Mulberry leaf spot and bacterial blight
How to identify: Dark spots on leaves, sometimes with yellow halos, in rainy weather.
Organic-first treatment: Prune for airflow, clean up fallen leaves, and avoid overhead watering.
Fruit flies
How to identify: Small punctures in ripening fruit that turn soft and rot from inside.
Organic-first treatment: Harvest on time, pick up dropped fruit daily, and bag developing fruit with mesh or paper bags.
Birds
How to identify: Missing or pecked fruit.
Organic-first treatment: Net the plant during ripening, or plant enough to share.
FAQ
Does Pakistan mulberry need cold to fruit? No, it is a low-chill variety well suited to South Florida.
Is it self-fruitful? Yes.
Related Reading
- Pakistan vs Dwarf Mulberry: Best Varieties for Pots in Florida
- Mulberry Tree Problems in South Florida (and Fixes)
- How to Prune Mulberry Trees in Florida (Plus Recipes)
Ready to grow your own? Get the Pakistani Mulberry here.
