He had guilt written all over his face and scampered away faster than I could say Jack Robinson.
The squirrel had been feasting on my red shahtoot! And this was despite wrapping the berries in netting!
The netting may have deterred the birds, these quicksilver creatures just grabbed the berries, netting and all, and sucked them dry.
I held the flimsy netting with the pitiful remains of what had been succulent berries just minutes earlier. All the ripening shahtoots had been eaten.
What’s the big deal, one may ask? After all the shahtoot is just another mulberry and I have lots of that.
But while the other mulberries in the garden are tart, the Morus Macroura is nectar sweet. The tassel-like berries which measure up to four inches long is definitely no ordinary mulberry. The Morus Macroura or red shahtoot is clearly in a league of its own.
The problem is, the birds, squirrels and ants love it too much. Procuring the plant might have been a huge challenge, but guarding the berries is definitely a bigger one.
Care and propagation: Full sun, water moderately, most soils. Propagate by using cuttings (I have not succeeded yet) or by grafting
Thank you
you have the most fascinating plants!
Thanks, huda and suraya. It’s one of my current fascinations. 😉
You are no “typical” gardener……you are absolutely extraordinary. I get to know many new and fascinating plants from your blog. Did you import this mulberry from Ozz?
You are so right, Luke! I would love to have this “typical” gardener as my next door neighbor. What a blessing.
ooo would love to buy a cutting from you when you are successful!
someone got this plant for me but apparently it is now available locally. it is a treasure … really worth getting one … or two.
May I know where to get this in Singapore?
World Farm only has the morus alba
some people are growing it but i think they found other sources.
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