Morus cathayana

Morus cathayana, or Hua Sang, is a deciduous mulberry tree. It belongs to the Moraceae family and grows in temperate Asia. Kew places its native range from central and southern China to Japan. Plants For A Future also lists Korea within its range. It grows in woods, beside streams, on sunny slopes, and in valleys. Recorded sites lie at 1,970–4,265 feet [600–1,300 metres] above sea level.

The tree can reach about 49 feet [15 metres] tall. Its size suits the canopy of a woodland garden. It can also grow at a sunny woodland edge. It sheds its leaves for winter. Male and female flowers can occur on the same tree. The flowers open from May to June. Seeds ripen from August to September, according to Plants For A Future. That source describes fruit about one inch [2.5 centimetres] across. It also records long, thin fruit on two trees at Kew. Those trees bore fair crops with a pleasant taste in July.

Choose a warm site with sun and soil that drains well. Loam is preferred, though sand and clay are also suitable. The tree can grow in light shade as well. It prefers moist ground rather than soil that stays dry. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 5–9. Its woodland and streamside habitats help explain the preference for moist soil.

The fruit can be eaten fresh or used in cooking. Cooked leaves are another food use recorded for this species. The leaves can also be used to make tea. Plants For A Future gives its food value two out of five. The same source lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. It records no other uses beyond those described for food. The lack of known hazards does not establish safety for pets.

Seed and cuttings offer ways to raise new plants. Two to three months of cold treatment can help seeds sprout. Fresh seed can be sown as soon as it ripens. Stored seed can be sown in February in a cold frame. Some seed waits an extra year before it sprouts. Young plants should spend their first winter in a cold frame. Plant them out after the last expected frost.