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 to 15 ft tall and 10 to 15 ft wide, fast-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Weeping form; some dieback.
medium water8 to 15 ft tall and 10 to 15 ft wide
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 to 9
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 8 to 15 ft tall and 10 to 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
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
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 to 15 ft tall and 10 to 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 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 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.
