HELP! Mulberry flowers withering, but leaves are green, why??

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by Winona, May 25, 2018.

  1. Winona

    Winona New Member

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    Hello plant experts!
    I'm a garden hobbyist and have a special interest in mulberry plant.
    My mulberry has beautiful green leaves, but I noticed recently that the flowering parts are withering and falling to the ground. Is it sick?
    I water normally and added bags of fertilizer soil to supplement a balanced nutrition, but the condition didn't seem to improve. Any ideas how to save my mulberry?

    mulberry tree: 33469209_1696952127025748_5084965575923335168_n.jpg
    surviving flower:
    33490964_1696952017025759_6977571042646556672_n.png
    withering flower: 33527124_1696951980359096_5661566945456029696_n.png
    33503333_1696951977025763_8321319486107942912_n.png

    typical leaves:
    33535088_1696952150359079_998775051043995648_n.jpg

    Please advise!!! thank you everyone :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 28, 2018
  2. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    How are your pollinators? Is the issue that you are expecting the flowers to develop into fruits?
     
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  3. Winona

    Winona New Member

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    You're right. There doesn't seem to have much bees or insect activities seen around the mulberry flowers.
    I see what you mean. Because there is no pollination, the flowers would then have "no purpose" to live on, which is why they eventually wither. Is this also because the plant tries to redirect energy for growth than towards reproduction?
    So would the solution be to artificially cross pollinate the existing flowers and hope that the flowers' ovaries will mature into fruits?

    Thanks for your help!
     
  4. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Mulberries are often very messy trees. Fruitless cultivars and male cultivars have been developed for purely ornamental purposes. Are you sure you don't have one of those?
     

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