I Had A Mulberry Tree In A Container. Its Branches…
Sandy Asked
I had a mulberry tree in a container. Its branches were twisted, almost like an H.L. Walking Stick, but it had only a few branches. Do you know what the name of it might be?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Sandy: It sounds like you had a contorted mulberry. The cultivar name is ‘Unryo,’ which is defined as twisted in Japanese where it is native. This tree/shrub is also sometimes referred to as ‘Tortusa.’ This mulberry (Morus) is a fast-growing large shrub or small tree that can reach upward of 30 feet tall at maturity. It can certainly be pruned to maintain a certain size. Although this mulberry has an interesting growth habit and would be a nice specimen in the garden, they are susceptible to all the disease and insect problems associated with mulberries. The contorted Filbert, commonly known as Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, would be a good substitution with less disease problems but the same form.
