June 2023 • Nebraskaland 43
Mulberries
For foragers, a berry-laden white
mulberry (Morus alba) tree is easy
pickings. This species was introduced
to the eastern United States from its
native China in the early 1600s and
rapidly spread from there. A member of
the fi g family, the tree is now common
in vacant lots, road ditches, pastures
and woodlands throughout eastern
and central Nebraska.
The mulberry's tiny, green fl owers
arranged in drooping catkins appear in
late April and May. The oblong berries
ripen in slow procession from green
to purplish-black in color throughout
June and July, providing a long harvest
season. The tree's low, spreading
branches place the berries within easy
reach of foragers.
If harvesting a few juicy fruits to
eat fresh, or enough for a single pie,
hand picking will suffi ce. If you desire
suffi cient berries for several pies or
freezing and later use, place an old
sheet or tarp under the tree and give a
branch a good shake. The ripe berries
will rain down on the sheet, along with
a few leaves, twigs and unripe berries
that you will need to remove.
Mulberries are often described as
blackberry-like in fl avor with a hint
of vanilla. My unrefi ned taste buds
cannot discern these hints of fl avor,
and for me, the berries taste uniquely
"mulberry-like." The juiciness,
sweetness and fl avor of the berries can
vary from tree-to-tree, and you may
have to sample fruit from several trees
to fi nd the best berries. Mulberries
can be used alone or mixed with other
wild fruits in desserts, including pies,
cakes and cookies, and preserves
including jam, jelly and syrup. Young
wrote that tartness can bring out
the mulberry fl avor, and she often
added gooseberries or rhubarb to her
mulberry desserts.
Whether seeking mulberries or
other wild fruits, Nebraska provides
ample opportunity to forage. The
benefi ts are many: you can relive your
hunter-gatherer past, explore a new
hobby, try new recipes and best of all,
treat yourself to nature's sweetness.
N
Highbush blackberries growing in oak woodlands at Indian Cave State Park in
Nemaha County. Blackberries have increased in the park due to recent prescribed
fi res.
Maisie Shupe of Omaha, held by her
father, Sawyer, delights in her fi rst
taste of mulberries.
