Mulberry in Zone 5

I have just recently moved to the Wiarton area just north of Owen Sound Ontario, I believe we are in zone 5 here, and am interested in planting a mulberry tree. Do you think it would be hardy in this area.

Black mulberry, Morus nigra, is rated hardy in zones 5-9. Hardiness ratings do not guarantee that a plant will survive in your area, but they are an indication of whether or not a plant stands a chance in a particular zone. Other factors such as snow cover, soil drainage, mulching and others, have a large effect on whether a plant survives winter.

Also, what is the difference between the black and white varieties, do Richters carry the latter?

White mulberry is not as hardy as black. Both have similar medicinal and culinary properties, but the hardiness was the determining factor for us.
We do have access to seeds of thousands of species of plants not listed in our catalogue. We can acquire them on a special order basis, but generally the minimum is more than a packet – usually 10 or 100 grams or more. If you are interested, please email specialorders@richters.com .