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Hi: I've been reading up on Mulberry trees as I want a better source of food for the Silkies. Here is a link of a type that I wonder about using with Silkies. Any of you who know about the types that Silkies flourish on, would you please comment on this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2375303663

Thank you for your trouble, Maggie

Hi Maggie,

I know I asked this (or someone did...) where do you live? Most any mulberry will do. The genus is Morus so M. alba, M. rubra, M.multicaulis etc. are all species within the genus. They are hardy way up here as well, but keep in mind it will be awhile before it can produce enough foliage to sustain a lot of silkies as they are voracious eaters!

The weeping mulberry Morus alba 'Pendula' is a cool little tree. I actually have one planted in a design I did where I went ot school for my hort. degree - unfortunatley I can't go back and raid it for leaves in the summer LOL!

I think John (of chameleon paradise - who hasn't been around for awhile) grows them for his silkies and he is in S. Ca. If you are in the north they would only provide foliage during the summer...

lele

p.s. mulberry fruit is luscious!

>>Hi: I've been reading up on Mulberry trees as I want a better source of food for the Silkies. Here is a link of a type that I wonder about using with Silkies. Any of you who know about the types that Silkies flourish on, would you please comment on this one:
>>
>>
>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2375303663
>>
>>Thank you for your trouble, Maggie
>>
>>
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Hi Lele: Thanks again for your able help. Yes, I live in Southern Ca. I take it that the weeping one will do here and be fine for the Silkies. The tree, though will take a while for the leaves to be plentiful enough, seems to have a habit that will fit my yard a bit better. Though, what I read was that the White Mulberry tree is in fact a tree that is more extensively used for keeping Silkies as they flourish on these. If you know in fact that this variety will do, I will get it as a compromise so that I will not have trouble with my neighbors complaining about staining fruits. They love to gripe down here in these parts. Again, thanks for ending my mental debate. Maggie

Hi Maggie...I make no guarantees! Apparently some species of Mulberry are considered invasive in parts of the Southwest. Living in the Northeast I am not familiar with particulars for your area. I have linked a page below to the California Rare Fruit Growers with info on growing, etc. You may want to check with your local extension office to make sure you are not planting a potentially invasive species.

As for nutrition level. The leaves on the weeping variety are not altered so I would assume they are just as viable a food as its parent tree, plus you are raising these as feeders, not siolk producers. You might want to check this out with Mulberry Farms and see if they have any thoughts about it. Hope this helps

lele

>>Hi Lele: Thanks again for your able help. Yes, I live in Southern Ca. I take it that the weeping one will do here and be fine for the Silkies. The tree, though will take a while for the leaves to be plentiful enough, seems to have a habit that will fit my yard a bit better. Though, what I read was that the White Mulberry tree is in fact a tree that is more extensively used for keeping Silkies as they flourish on these. If you know in fact that this variety will do, I will get it as a compromise so that I will not have trouble with my neighbors complaining about staining fruits. They love to gripe down here in these parts. Again, thanks for ending my mental debate. Maggie
Mulberry

-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta