'Nikita White' Mulberry

The Nikita White Mulberry is a rare fruiting tree bred at the famous Nikita Botanical Garden in Ukraine. Unlike common dark mulberries, this variety produces translucent ivory-white berries that almost glow in the sunlight. Their flavour is sweet, delicate, and honey-like, with subtle floral notes that set them apart from the richer, wine-like taste of darker mulberries. Because they’re pale in colour, the fruit won’t stain your hands, clothing, or walkways.

Beyond snacking fresh from the tree, these berries are excellent dried, when their sweetness concentrates into something resembling golden raisins. They also make a beautiful addition to baked goods, jams, syrups, or even light wines and liqueurs. Mulberry leaf tea is also popular.

This vigorous tree thrives in full sun, reaching 20–30 feet tall if unpruned, though it can be maintained smaller with annual pruning. It fruits generously from late spring into early summer, often over a period of several weeks. Hardy to Zone 5 (-29ºC), it performs exceptionally well in coastal climates and is a long-lived addition to orchards, edible landscapes, or large gardens.

Whether you plant it for its unique fruit, its generous shade, or its ability to draw in pollinators and wildlife, the Nikita White Mulberry offers something for everyone.

Common names: Nikita White Mulberry, White Mulberry, Chinese Mulberry

Edible: Fruit, and leaves (tea) 
Harvest timing: Late spring - early summer

Scientific name: Morus alba 'Staroye Derevo #2'
Light requirements: Full sun (6+ hrs) for best yields, but can tollerate some shade
Full-grown size: 20-30' tall x 15-20' wide, smaller with pruning
Hardiness: Zone 5 (-29ºC)
Pollination: Self-fertile
Wildlife: Birds are attracted to dark mulberries, but less so to white mulberries, as they don't appear to be 'ripe yet'.
Origin: Species native to China, but the cultivar Nikita was bred at the Nikita Botanical Garden in Ukraine. 
Noteworthy: Unlike dark-fruited mulberries, white mulberries do not stain.