Fall Deals:
15% OFF Strawberry Trees - Barbados Cherries - Papayas
15% Off Vitex & Sweet Almond
Roselle & Egyptian Spinach - Buy One Get One Free
🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🍇 “World’s Best” Mulberry (Morus alba hybrid) — 4″ Starter Size 🌿
Fast-growing, compact, and loaded with jet-black, sweet-tart berries — a true performer for Florida and the Southeast.
If you love tropical sweetness with backyard reliability, the “World’s Best” Mulberry lives up to its name. This compact Morus alba hybrid from Thailand—popularized by Bryce Garling—is known for rich, flavorful berries, early production, and vigorous growth in hot, humid climates.
From a small 4″ starter, you can expect rapid growth, fast fruiting, and bountiful harvests with little fuss.
🌸 Why Grow the “World’s Best” Mulberry?
- Early Fruiting: Begins producing within its first season in warm climates.
- Delicious Flavor: A sweet, jammy taste with notes of blueberry and raspberry—a favorite for fresh eating or baking.
- Compact Size: Naturally smaller than most mulberries, easily maintained under 8 ft for backyard or container culture.
- Multi-Season Harvests: Main fruiting in spring (March–May) with potential bonus flushes after post-harvest pruning.
- Hardy & Resilient: Thrives in full sun, sandy soils, and Florida’s humidity—low maintenance and highly rewarding.
- Health Boost: Like all mulberries, high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and anthocyanins for immune and circulatory support.
🌿 Note for Shoppers: This is a deciduous fruit tree, not an evergreen ornamental. Expect seasonal leaf drop, spotting, or “ugly” phases—especially after heavy rain or pruning. This is completely normal, and the tree quickly rebounds with vibrant new growth.
🌿 Quick Facts (At-a-Glance)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Morus alba hybrid |
| Common Name | “World’s Best” Mulberry |
| Plant Type | Deciduous fruiting tree |
| Size at Sale | 4″ starter pot |
| Mature Height × Width | 12–15 ft × 8–12 ft (maintain 6–8 ft with pruning) |
| USDA Zones | 7–10 |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun (6–8 hrs/day minimum) |
| Cold Hardiness | To ~10–15°F once established |
| Growth Habit | Upright, fast, highly prune-responsive |
| Spacing | 8–12 ft apart (hedge closer if regularly pruned) |
| Pollination | Self-fruitful (no pollinator needed) |
🍇 Fruit & Harvest Details
- Flavor: A bold, rich, jam-like sweetness with subtle tangy notes.
- Texture: Soft, juicy, thin-skinned fruit.
- Fruit Size: Medium (approx. 1–1.5”).
- Main Fruiting Season (Central FL): Late March – May
- Additional Flushes: Triggered by hard post-harvest pruning (“stress pruning”)—often yields 2–3 crops per year.
- Yield: Mature plants can produce several pounds per flush, especially with consistent pruning.
Harvesting Tip: Pick berries when fully dark purple-black—they release easily when ripe.
🌱 Growth Habit & Landscaping Use
A vigorous, compact hybrid ideal for home gardens and edible landscapes:
- Upright and bushy form with light-green, glossy, variably lobed leaves.
- Performs beautifully as a standalone feature, edible hedge, or container tree.
- Fast-growing enough for regenerative food forests and small urban farms.
Not a dooryard ornamental:
Mulberries naturally go through rough phases—shedding leaves, spotting, and dormancy cycles. These are part of the organic process and not disease or neglect.
🪴 Container & Patio Growing
- Step-up sizes: 4″ → 1–3 gal → 7–15 gal as it matures.
- Height in pots: Maintain 4–8 ft with routine pruning.
- Soil: Use rich, well-draining compost mix with perlite.
- Sunlight: Full sun (6–8 hrs/day).
- Winter: Move pots to protected areas during frost events.
🌾 Regenerative Companion Plants (for Florida-Friendly Fertility)
Healthy soil grows healthy trees. Build fertility naturally with these GreenDreams favorites:
Fertility Builders & Soil Partners:
- 🌻 Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) – Nitrogen-rich biomass; fast regrowth after pruning.
- 🌾 Fakahatchee Grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) – Native Florida grass for “chop & drop” carbon mulch.
- 🌱 Pigeon Pea – Nitrogen-fixing pollinator favorite.
- 🌿 Sunn Hemp – Excellent warm-season cover crop that suppresses nematodes and adds organic matter.
✂️ Chop & Drop: Simply cut these plants to the ground periodically and leave the trimmings as mulch. This creates a perfect nitrogen-to-carbon balance, feeding the soil naturally and reducing the need for fertilizer.
🛠️ Best Practices for Planting & Care
🌱 The GreenDreams “High & Tight” Method
- Plant slightly above ground level, keeping the root flare visible.
- Backfill with native soil + compost and firm in place.
- Top-dress with biochar, compost, and azomite (trace minerals).
- Add 2–3″ hardwood mulch, pulled away from the trunk base.
▶️ Watch: GreenDreams “High & Tight” Planting Video
💧 Watering Schedule
| Stage | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Water lightly every day. |
| Weeks 3–6 | 2–3× per week, adjusting for rain/heat. |
| Established | Water only in drought; keep containers evenly moist. |
🌿 Fertilizing
- In-ground plants in Florida often need no synthetic fertilizer—they thrive with compost and organic mulch.
- In pots, feed with a light organic fruit-tree fertilizer (5-5-5) 2–3× per year.
- Regenerative “chop & drop” fertilization can replace packaged inputs entirely.
✂️ Pruning & Fruiting Cycle
- Fruits on new growth.
- Main crop: March–May.
- Secondary crops: Triggered by hard pruning after harvest.
- Maintain 6–8 ft height for easy picking and shape.
- Perform large pruning only when dormant to avoid sap bleeding.
🍂 Seasonal Behavior (Florida & Similar Climates)
Mulberries are deciduous, not evergreen. Expect:
- Winter: Leaves yellow and drop; plant rests.
- Spring: Explosive flush of leaves, flowers, and fruit.
- Summer: Potential second fruiting if pruned back.
- Rainy season: Possible leaf spotting or partial defoliation (cosmetic, not disease).
- Cool spells: May trigger brief leaf loss—normal.
Your mulberry may look rough at times, but it’s just recharging. With organic care and warmth, it always rebounds.
🧪 Troubleshooting Guide
| Symptom | Cause | Organic Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf spotting/yellowing | Seasonal humidity or nutrient shift | Remove affected leaves; top-dress compost; increase airflow |
| Sudden leaf drop | Dormancy, stress, or overwatering | Reduce water, maintain steady moisture |
| Sparse fruit | Lack of pruning or low sun | Tip-prune and ensure 6–8 hrs full sun |
| Root-knot nematodes | Florida sandy soils | Use Sunn Hemp, compost, mulch; grow in raised beds |
| Bleeding sap | Pruned during active growth | Save major pruning for winter dormancy |
| Fruit loss to birds | Ripe fruit unharvested | Harvest daily or net trees |
| Wind or transplant stress | Heat exposure | Provide afternoon shade & moisture balance |
🍽️ Culinary & Nutritional Highlights
- Use: Fresh, in pies, smoothies, jam, or dried snacks.
- Taste: Sweet-tart, rich berry flavor with tangy notes.
- Nutrition: High in vitamin C, iron, fiber, and polyphenols.
- Folklore: Mulberries are ancient symbols of vitality and abundance in Chinese tradition.
⚠️ Cautions
- Fruit stains surfaces—avoid planting near patios or vehicles.
- Sap can irritate skin—wear gloves when pruning.
- Expect natural cycles—temporary defoliation or spotting is normal.
🌟 Is “World’s Best” Right for You?
✅ Ideal for:
- Gardeners in Florida, Texas, and the Southeast
- Small yards, container growers, and edible landscapes
- Collectors wanting fast fruit and compact growth
❌ Not ideal for:
- Those expecting evergreen looks year-round
- Northern growers shipping during frost or peak heat
🚚 Shipping Details
- Ships in 4″ starter pot (young but vigorous).
- Best regions: Florida, Southeast, and Texas (UPS Ground).
- Transit advisory: May need filtered light and consistent water for 2–3 weeks post-shipping.
- Buyer discretion: We’re not responsible for heat or cold damage outside our zone.
- Northern & Western U.S.: Plant may arrive leafless (dormant).
🏡 Local Pickup
GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
📍 18709 US Hwy 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
🕘 Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM
🌿 Come see what’s fruiting this season!
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
We don’t just grow plants — we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.
- 🌳 Edible landscape consultation & design
- 🏗️ Installation & project management
- 🚚 Compost, mulch, biochar & soil delivery
- 🌾 Wholesale & regenerative solutions
Let our team help you create your own thriving edible paradise — starting with the “World’s Best” Mulberry!
🌸 Mulberry Variety Comparison Guide — GreenDreams Collection
| Cultivar | Zones / Cold Resilience | Mature / Pruned Size | Flavor Profile | Fruit Size | Leaf Size | Why It’s Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thai Dwarf | 6–10 / ~15°F | 12–15 ft / 6–8 ft | Sweet-tart, blueberry-raspberry | Medium (1–1.5”) | Medium | Compact, container-friendly, fast fruiting |
| World’s Best | 7–10 / ~10–15°F | 12–15 ft / 6–8 ft | Rich, jammy, blackberry-like | Medium (1–1.5”) | Medium-large | Bold flavor, easy pruning, early fruit |
| Pakistani | 8–10 / ~20°F | 25–30 ft / 10–12 ft | Honey-sweet, low acid | Very large (3–4”) | Large, velvety | Longest, sweetest berries; gourmet quality |
| Shangri-La | 7–10 / ~10°F | 25–30 ft / 10–15 ft | Deep, winey-sweet | Large (1.5–2”) | Very large | Cold-hardy classic; lush canopy |
| Everbearing | 7–10 / ~15°F | 15–20 ft / 6–10 ft | Tangy-sweet, consistent crops | Small-medium (1”) | Medium | Long harvest window; reliable producer |
| 6th Street | 7–10 / ~10°F | 20 ft / 8–10 ft | Balanced, mild-sweet | Medium (1–1.25”) | Medium | Florida-adapted, great all-arounder |
| Hunter | 7–10 / ~15°F | 20–25 ft / 8–10 ft | Bold, rich, less tart | Large (1.5–2”) | Broad | Heavy producer, ideal for juicing |
| Tice | 8–10 / ~20°F | 20–25 ft / 8–10 ft | Mild, sweet | Medium-large (1.5”) | Large, soft | Heat-tolerant, reliable fruiter |
| Unryu | 7–10 / ~10°F | 15–20 ft / 6–8 ft | Mild-sweet, floral | Medium (1–1.25”) | Medium | Ornamental corkscrew branches |
| White Mulberry | 5–9 / ~-10°F | 30–40 ft / 10–15 ft | Delicately sweet | Medium (1”) | Large, glossy | Super cold-hardy, mild flavor |
🌱 Grow More, Harvest More:
Each variety offers a unique flavor, size, and resilience. Growing multiple types extends your harvest season, diversifies your flavor palette, and brings beauty and biodiversity to your garden.
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.
-
For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
-
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.
-
We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
-
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.
