mulberry trees

[lizzywoodwardBD]

I was looking to get a mulberry tree so i can feed my silkworms from it but i live in Michigan and the only one i would be able to grow here would be the white mulberry tree and was wondering if it matters what kind it is to be able to feed the leaves to my silkworms? Does it just have to be a mulberry tree or a certain kind of mulberry tree?

Thanks, Beth

 

[invictusrules]

According to Wiki, you're good to go with the white mulberry. (Hopefully they're a little less messy than the red ones that drop dark-colored fruit which always manages to end up in bird poops all over the car.

 

[lizzywoodwardBD]

Ya that is what i am going to go with and yes that would be a mess lol.

Thanks

 

[AHBD]

A mulberry tree would be a good investment. My beardies love the leaves, and I use them as a staple along with mustard, turnip, collard and dandelion and [ on occasion] green leaf clover. My dragons will gobble the mulberry leaves like candy. I just take the spine out.

 

[lizzywoodwardBD]

well i would be using the leaves to feed to the silkworms and then feeding the silkworms to my beardies, they love those.

 

[AHBD]

Yes, I know that you were inquiring about the tree to feed your silkworms, but I mentioned that beardies eat them too, because many people don't know this and if you have a tree, it's a constant supply of free, healthy greens for your dragon all summer long.

 

[invictusrules]

My dragons will gobble the mulberry leaves like candy

Very cool! The red mulberry or the white?

 

[AHBD]

I'm not positive about the exact type, it came with our house when we bought it. My father had one where he used to live that did not produce fruit [ I think it's considered a male] My tree bears the purple berries, [ which, I was told , makes it female ? ] which, by the way, my dragons wouldn't eat but the birds do and then they happily decorate my car !

 

[valcash]

Keep in mind silkworms eat a TON of food for their size.

 

[AHBD]

The tree I mentioned that my beardies love the leaves of is Morus Rubra, the red mulberry tree. And yes, the birds can make a bit of a mess after they indulge in the berries. My dragons only like the leaves, not the berries.

 

[hammerhead]

Mulberry trees are a quite common tree. When I was raising silkworms I discovered a small white mulberry tree right in my yard mixed in with all the maples. I also placed an ad on craigslist to see if anyone had any mulberry branches I could have (I never thought I'd get a reply) and the next day I'm picking up branches people let me cut from their trees. If you plan on getting a tree the leaves are gonna be gone pretty quick unless you plan on getting a full size tree delivered.

 

[EShell]

Mulberry trees are a quite common tree...

True, especially considering that they were imported years ago to draw birds from "real" fruit trees.

We had Mulberries everywhere when I lived in central MD. The trees colonize and take over areas, and are extremely hard to kill. I've cut 10" trees down and the next year had to cut 2" thick shoots/suckers off the stump. Same with trees small enough to run over with the mower - they just keep trying and trying.

 

[jaidonx13]

White mulbery is fine