When to Plant Mulberry in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Plant June to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is June.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Mulberry guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Mulberry

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Possibly the easiest fruit tree to grow in Australia. Virtually indestructible, tolerates poor soil, drought, neglect, and a wide climate range. Black mulberry (M. nigra) produces the best-flavoured fruit. Trees grow fast, fruit young (often in first year), and produce heavily. The main downside: fruit stains everything. Paths, cars, laundry, hands, and anything beneath the tree. Plan placement carefully. Birds love mulberries, which can be an advantage (distraction crop) or disadvantage.

Best Planting Window for Mediterranean

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - P P P - - - -

P = Planting window

Plant bare root June-August.

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How to Grow Mulberry in Mediterranean Australia

When to Plant

Plant bare root June-August.

Soil
Tolerates almost anything including heavy clay, sand, and poor soils. Performs best in well-drained fertile soil but genuinely undemanding.
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun for best fruit. Tolerates part shade.

Companion plants: Anything, mulberries are not fussy

Avoid planting near: Paths, driveways, clotheslines, swimming pools (staining), Anything you don't want purple-stained

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Mulberry

Recommended Varieties

  • Black English
  • White Shahtoot
  • Hicks Fancy

Key Challenges

  • Dry summers reduce fruit size without irrigation

Pro Tips

  • Excellent mulberry zone. Mediterranean climate is where mulberries have been grown for millennia.

Harvesting Mulberry

When ready: Black mulberry: fully black-purple and soft. White/Shahtoot: pale pink to white and sweet. Ripe fruit falls at a touch. Lay a clean sheet under the tree and shake branches.

How to harvest: Shake branches over a sheet or pick individually. Wear old clothes, staining is inevitable.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the mediterranean zone this September: Ginger, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

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Common Questions About Mulberry

When do you plant mulberry in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.