Mulberry
Can I Grow Illinois Everbearing?
Illinois Everbearing is the mulberry for serious fruit lovers — producing massive quantities of long, sweet-tart berries over a two-month harvest window. Cold-hardy, fast-growing, and virtually indestructible once established.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
200
Hardiness Zones
4-5-6-7-8-9
Harvest
July to September
Results
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About Illinois Everbearing
Illinois Everbearing is the mulberry for serious fruit lovers — producing massive quantities of long, sweet-tart berries over a two-month harvest window. Cold-hardy, fast-growing, and virtually indestructible once established.
Illinois Everbearing requires 200 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
Common Challenges
Fruit stains everything it touches (don't plant near driveways or patios); birds will compete aggressively; vigorous growth needs annual pruning.
Common Misconception
Will Illinois Everbearing produce more fruit in colder climates?
Not necessarily. Illinois Everbearing only needs 200 chill hours. Planting in very cold zones (3 or colder) risks winter damage without improving fruit production. The ideal zones are 4-9 where the tree gets enough chill without excessive cold stress.
Other Mulberry Varieties
Chill hour data from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus/ECMWF). Variety information compiled from university extension services.