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🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🍇 Shangri-La Mulberry (Morus alba × rubra): Fast, Sweet, Florida-Proven
Big, blackberry-colored berries on a small, lush tree—Shangri-La brings easy harvests, kid-approved flavor, and tropical vibes to almost any edible landscape. Originated in Florida and adored across the South and beyond.
🌿 Quick Facts (Buyer’s Cheat Sheet)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Morus ‘Shangri-La’ (M. alba × M. rubra) |
| Plant Type | Deciduous fruit tree (self-fertile—no pollinator needed) |
| Sale Size (ships) | 1-gallon container, nursery-grown & ready to plant |
| Mature Height × Width | ~10–20 ft × 12–20 ft (can be kept 8–12 ft with pruning) |
| USDA Zones | 7–10 (Florida-proven; also succeeds in other warm, humid regions) |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun for best fruiting (tolerates light shade) |
| Cold Hardiness | Suited to zone 7 winters; deciduous habit adds cold tolerance vs. tropicals |
| Growth Rate / Habit | Fast-growing, small tree with huge heart-shaped leaves; easy to shape |
| Spacing | 12–20 ft from other trees & structures (or 8–10 ft if hedgerow + regular pruning) |
🍇 Fruit & Flavor Details
- Flavor profile: Sweet to sweet-tart, blackberry-like, juicy and richly colored.
- Fruit size: Typically about 1–1.5 inches, plump and easy to pick.
- Harvest window (Florida): Late winter/early spring through late spring, with extended picking into summer in warm seasons.
- Yield & fruiting habit: Self-fertile; home trees commonly produce generous crops (15–25+ lbs on established trees).
- Boost fruit set: Full sun, even moisture during bloom and fruit swell, and light summer tipping to encourage fruiting wood.
🌱 Top Benefits & Uses
- Ridiculously easy: Mulberries thrive in sandy, low-input Florida soils once established.
- Fast gratification: Often bears young and abundantly with minimal pest pressure.
- Edible landscaping star: Large, tropical-looking foliage + compact habit = high ornamental value.
- Wildlife delight: Flowers and fruit support birds, pollinators, and backyard biodiversity.
- Kitchen versatility: Fresh eating, smoothies, pies, cobblers, syrups, dehydrated snacks, and freezer-friendly sauces.
🪴 Container & Indoor Notes
- Containers: Yes—start with the shipped 1-gallon, up-pot gradually to 10–15 gallons for patio production. Keep head-height with annual thinning and tipping.
- Indoors: Not recommended long-term; needs strong sun, airflow, and seasonal cues for best fruiting. Use a moveable patio pot strategy instead.
Seasonal Habits (What to Expect)
Mulberries are deciduous. In Florida and similar climates:
- Fall: Leaves yellow, then drop—normal!
- Winter: Bare structure; this is your main pruning window.
- Spring: Flush of new growth + flowering and fruit set.
- Summer: Possible extended harvest; maintain moisture and tip-prune to shape.
🧑🌾 Best Practices for Planting & Care
Where to Plant
- Full sun, well-drained soil; tolerates sandy Florida sites and coastal wind once established.
How to Plant (our “High & Tight” method)
- Dig a hole only slightly wider than the pot; set the root ball at or slightly above grade.
- Backfill firmly with native soil (optionally blend in compost around—but not on top of—the root flare).
- Water in thoroughly; mulch 2–3 inches deep with hardwood chips, keeping mulch off the trunk.▶️ Watch: GreenDreams “High & Tight” Fruit Tree Planting Video
Watering
- Establishment: Daily light watering for the first week, then 2–3×/week for 6–8 weeks; taper to deep weekly in the first year.
- Mature: Water during dry spells, especially during bloom and fruit swell. (Mulberries are drought-tolerant after establishment.)
Feeding
- Apply a balanced organic fertilizer or compost in spring. Avoid over-nitrogen, which can push leafy growth at the expense of fruit.
Pruning (Simple & Effective)
- Late winter: Structural thinning to maintain 8–12 ft picking height.
- Early summer: Tip-prune vigorous shoots to stimulate branching and next-flush fruiting wood; remove crossing suckers.
Cold & Wind
- Hardy in USDA 7–10. Young trees appreciate windbreaks; mulch the root zone before hard freezes.
🌼 Companion & Support Guild Ideas
- Nitrogen fixers: Pigeon pea, sunn hemp—feed the soil and your mulberry.
- Biomass makers: Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), vetiver—for quick chop-and-drop mulch.
- Pollinator power: Blue porterweed, African blue basil—more pollinators, better set.
- Aesthetic partners: Bananas, chaya, turmeric—layered, tropical look with staggered harvests.
🍽️ Culinary Ideas & Cultural Notes
- Use like blackberries: fresh bowls, yogurt, oatmeal, cobblers/pies, jams, syrups, and sorbets.
- Freezer tip: Lay berries in a single layer to freeze; store in bags for smoothies all year.
Origin Story (Why “Shangri-La”?)
This cultivar was developed in Naples, Florida, selected for its large dark fruit, big heart-shaped leaves, and strong adaptation to humidity. The name “Shangri-La” symbolizes a paradise of abundance—fitting for a tree that fruits fast and grows effortlessly in subtropical gardens.
Troubleshooting (Florida & Beyond)
Birds love mulberries → Netting or daily harvest keeps fruit yours.
Staining fruit drop → Avoid driveways and patios; prune to keep canopy tidy.
Excess leaves, little fruit → Increase sun, reduce nitrogen, and summer tip-prune.
Diseases (rare): Good airflow and cleanup prevent mildew or leaf spot.
Drought stress in pots → Gradually upsize container, mulch surface, and water deeply.
Cold snaps (Zone 7) → Mulch roots; wrap young trunks in fabric if temps drop below 20°F.
❓ FAQ
Do I need two trees for fruit?
No—Shangri-La is self-fertile.
When will it fruit in Florida?
Usually late winter through late spring, often extended in warm years.
How big does it get?
Plan for 10–20 ft, or maintain 8–12 ft with annual pruning.
Can I grow it in a container?
Yes—use a 10–15 gal pot, prune yearly, and provide full sun.
Is it messy?
Like all mulberries, fallen fruit can stain. Site smartly and harvest often.
⚠️ Cautions
- Fruit stains on pavement and fabric.
- Birds and wildlife are naturally attracted.
- Keep mulch away from trunk to prevent rot; don’t plant too deep.
🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal for:
Home orchardists, edible landscapers, food forest enthusiasts, and Florida gardeners wanting quick results.
❌ Not ideal for:
Growers in northern climates without protection, or those who dislike a bit of wildlife visiting for snacks.
🛒 Call to Action
Ready to snack straight from the tree and fill your freezer? Add Shangri-La Mulberry (1-gallon) to your cart today—sweet rewards start sooner than you think!
🏡 Local Pickup (Tampa Bay Area)
📍 GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Open: Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM
🚚 Shipping & Handling
- Best ship sizes: 4-inch & 1-gallon plants ship best to Florida, the Southeast & Texas.
- We can ship nationwide, but northern & western orders may require recovery time after transit.
- Weather disclaimer: Buyer discretion advised during peak heat or cold—we’re not responsible for temperature-related stress during shipping.
- Shipped via UPS Ground every Monday from Florida.
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
We do more than sell trees—we design, build, and restore edible ecosystems across Florida.
- On-site consultations & edible landscape design
- Installation & project management
- Bulk delivery of compost, mulch, biochar, and soil materials
- Wholesale & large-scale regenerative solutions
Let our team help you create your own thriving edible paradise—starting with fruit trees like the Shangri-La Mulberry! 🌿
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
