Shangri-La

Shangri-La is a Morus alba by Morus rubra hybrid originating in Naples, Florida, and it was selected specifically for the Deep South rather than adapted to it after the fact. That provenance matters: most named mulberries were selected in the Midwest or California and sulk in Gulf Coast heat and humidity, whereas Shangri-La was chosen in a subtropical climate and crops reliably there. It combines the fruiting vigour of the white mulberry with the heat and humidity tolerance contributed by the native red mulberry parent. The tree is notably ornamental, carrying enormous heart-shaped leaves that give it a semi-tropical look quite unlike a standard mulberry, and it stays at a manageable 20 feet or so. It is precocious to the point of fruiting in a container within a year or two of grafting, which is why it is a fixture at Sow Exotic, Stark Bro's, One Green World and Raintree.