'Illinois Everbearing' Mulberry (Morus 'Illinois Everbearing'): Extended Harvest Hybrid

'Illinois Everbearing' Mulberry is a celebrated hybrid cultivar (likely Morus alba × M. rubra) that produces an exceptionally long harvest season of sweet, blackberry-like fruits. Selected in Illinois, this mulberry combines the best traits of its parent species: fruit quality, cold hardiness, and extended bearing.

Prolonged Fruiting Season

Unlike standard mulberries that fruit for 2-3 weeks in early summer, 'Illinois Everbearing' produces successive crops from early summer through fall—often 2-3 months of continuous harvest. The fruits are 1-1.5 inches long, deep purple-black when ripe, sweet with a rich, complex flavor (less tart than wild red mulberry). They resemble elongated blackberries and are excellent fresh, in preserves, baked goods, and wine.

Taxonomic Classification

Growth and Culture

This deciduous tree grows rapidly to 30-40 feet tall and wide, with a rounded, spreading canopy. The leaves are polymorphic (variable shape—lobed to entire), 3-7 inches long, glossy green. It's very cold-hardy (zone 4/5), heat-tolerant, and adapts to a wide range of soils, including alkaline and clay. Full sun produces best fruit.

Mulberries are dioecious (male/female trees), but 'Illinois Everbearing' is self-fruitful (female, sets fruit without pollinator). The fruits drop when ripe—plant away from patios, driveways, and walkways to avoid staining. Birds love them (great for wildlife, messy for pavement). Prune in winter to control size. It's resistant to most pests and diseases. A top choice for edible landscaping and permaculture.