STANDARD / Morus alba 'Chaparral'

Chaparral Weeping Mulberry / Weeping Mulberry

Botanical Name: Morus alba 'Chaparral' (standard)
Family: Moraceae
Origin: China (East Asia)
Plant Type: Deciduous tree (grafted standard)

Overview

A handsome, fruitless weeping mulberry for Adelaide. ‘Chaparral’ forms a tidy umbrella canopy on a clear trunk with glossy green leaves that turn golden in autumn. As a male, non-fruiting selection, it gives the classic look without messy drop—great for paths, lawns and courtyard features.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 2–3.5 m H × 2–4 m W (maintained as a standard; naturally cascading)
• Growth Rate: 20-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Shiny, mid-green leaves; golden autumn colour before leaf-fall
• Flowers: Inconspicuous greenish catkins in spring; fruitless male selection (no berries)
  
• Seasonal Interest: Graceful spring flush, lush summer shade, yellow autumn foliage; winter shows elegant framework
• Wildlife Value: Dense weeping canopy offers shelter; limited nectar/pollen (no fruit)
• Tolerance: Heat, drought and wind tolerant once established; handles urban conditions and some coastal exposure; frost hardy in SA
• Planting Density: Avenue/specimen standards: space 2–3 m apart (or 1 per large pot 50–60 cm+)
• Pet Friendly: Yes — generally regarded as non-toxic; avoid pets chewing large quantities of foliage

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (best canopy density) to light part shade
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay; avoid chronic waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; rarely in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Winter prune to shape the weeping framework and keep skirts off the ground; remove any shoots from below the graft; mulch in spring; slow-release feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 20–40+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate/Mediterranean SA, including inland metro sites; shelter from heavy salt spray
• Soil pH: Slightly acid to neutral; tolerates mildly alkaline soils

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Feature on lawns, by entries or courtyards for a romantic weeping focal point
• Avenues of standards along drives/paths for a classic umbrella rhythm
• Beautiful over low walls or reflective water for maximum drama

Why You Will Love It

All the elegant weeping look with zero fruit mess. Tough, shade-giving and easy to shape, ‘Chaparral’ thrives in Adelaide’s climate and elevates entrances, lawns and pots with year-round presence.