White Mulberry 'Chaparral'
Morus alba
White Mulberry 'Chaparral' (Morus alba) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 8–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide, fast-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Weeping form; some dieback.
medium water8–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wideDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: "berries : White Mulberry Morus alba" by Guilherme Jófili is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.
- Photo 2: "Morus alba - Tehran" by Alborzagros is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
- Photo 3: Emőke Dénes
- Photo 4: (c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 5: no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
- Photo 6: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–9
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 8–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide
- Mature form
- Rounded
- Spacing / clearance
- ~15 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Lifespan
- Short-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid spring
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessThe average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- Watch: Short LivedFast but not forever; this one runs short lived here, so enjoy it and plan a successor rather than treating it as a legacy tree.
Frequently asked questions
- Is White Mulberry 'Chaparral' good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, White Mulberry 'Chaparral' is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does White Mulberry 'Chaparral' get?
- It matures to about 8–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide.
- How much room does White Mulberry 'Chaparral' need?
- Give White Mulberry 'Chaparral' about 15 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does White Mulberry 'Chaparral' grow into?
- White Mulberry 'Chaparral' typically grows into a broad, rounded crown, the classic shade-tree silhouette. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is White Mulberry 'Chaparral' hardy on the Front Range?
- White Mulberry 'Chaparral' is hardy in USDA 4–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How much water does White Mulberry 'Chaparral' need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does White Mulberry 'Chaparral' grow?
- White Mulberry 'Chaparral' is a fast-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does White Mulberry 'Chaparral' live?
- White Mulberry 'Chaparral' is relatively short-lived for a tree, so plan to replace it sooner than a long-lived shade tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is White Mulberry 'Chaparral' native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is White Mulberry 'Chaparral' deer-resistant?
- White Mulberry 'Chaparral' is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
