Villous Mulberry Plant Care

Villous Mulberry (Fatoua villosa) belongs to the Moraceae family within the Fatoua genus. Villous Mulberry is native to Eastern Asia, some Pacific islands, and parts of Australia, including in two Australian states, the Bismarck Archipelago, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Villous Mulberry displays a low spreading groundcover growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Villous Mulberry produces inconspicuous flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Villous Mulberry every 5–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Villous Mulberry thrives in partial to full shade. Avoid placing Villous Mulberry in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Fatoua villosa tolerates temperatures of 65–85°F. Villous Mulberry prefers humidity levels of 60–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Villous Mulberry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Villous Mulberry every 2 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with partial to full shade and well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Villous Mulberry is suited to USDA Zone 6a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Villous Mulberry can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Villous Mulberry while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Villous Mulberry is hardy down to USDA zone 6a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Villous Mulberry can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Villous Mulberry is susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Villous Mulberry grows outdoors in USDA Zone 6a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 6a. Villous Mulberry is native to Eastern Asia, some Pacific islands, and parts of Australia, including in two Australian states, the Bismarck Archipelago, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.