Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been thinking a little about breeding silkworms, and it just came to my attention that I have mulberry trees growing all around me. The problem is, I don't know what they look like. Does anyone know of a good website that has pictures to help point me in the right direction?

Where do you live? If you are in a northern state you will still need to buy chow during the winter months. Also can you be absolutley positive that these trees have not been sprayed? If you think you have found one and are not sure post a pic on the forum and I will help you out.

here are a few sites:

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/m/moralb/moralb1.html
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=morus alba

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica the j sisters were sent to freedom last month
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I have some around my house, but not close by any means. I don't think it would be worth the trip every few days to get leaves. They wouldn't be sprayed though - they're just growing in the wild on our property. I've been looking into purchasing a couple trees and planting them right out back for down the road breeding of silkies though. I found a site that has them for 6.95 a piece, but they are the kind with berries and the site has no scientific name - I;m not sure if this is the right mulberry or not - i think I'll e-mail them.

The scientific name is Morus alba (white mulberry - alba means white) there is also Morus rubra (red mulberry - you guessed it, rubra means red

For $6.95 they are probably quite small. They are fast growers (11'-12' in 4-6 years) but you'll still have a bit of a wait to have a constant supply of foliage. Did you say if you are in northern or southern clime? Silkies eat A LOT!

As for fruit - it doesn't matter which you get. Most mulberries are dioecious, which means the male and female flowers are on two separate trees meaning you need both to produce fruit. However some are monoecious - both male and female flowers on one tree. Since you have many in your neighborhood I am sure cross fertilization will take place and if you have female trees they will produce fruit. Two notes about the fruit - they are absolutely delicious! Second, they are very messy (drop a lot and smoosh!), but the birds love them too. So if any of these are a concern try to get a male tree (provided the nursery has them sexed) since it is the foliage you are interested in.

Sorry about the science lesson but if you are considering growing them you may as well know the basics. Another thought…you said they were growing on your property? You could find a sapling that is farther along than nursery stock and transplant it closer to your house. If you choose to go out and collect them they do stay fresh in the fridge for several days.

Hope I haven’t confused you!

lele

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica the j sisters were sent to freedom last month
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Thanks for the info... I like science lessons when I'm interested. I found a site advertising hardy mulberry trees (no scientific name) 18"-24" for $9.25 a piece, which grow to 25 -40'. I was planning on planting them next to the woods where the mess they make won't really be a problem but they'd still be close. Oh yeah, this site says they produce delicious black fruits. Do you know if this would be a good mulberry for silkworms? The site gives you a pair to ensure proper pollination. Oh, I am in North Carolina to answer your question. Thanks again.