Controversy remains as to the person who planted the mulberry tree, and when.

Some believe the tree was planted some time in 1837 and is all that is left of an orchard planted by Johann Menge (1788-1852), South Australia's first geologist.

The descendants of Friedrich Kleeman lay claim to the first planting.
Friedrich's wife, Maria née Helm died  the day before the arrival of the Solway in 16 October 1837 and her remains were brought ashore and buried.
An obituary notice of Friedericke Wilhelmine Till (Friedrich's daughter) who died in 1928 stated that her mother was buried in the Old Cemetey at Kingscote, near the Mulberry Tree, which was brought out by the Kleeman family from Germany.
Other newspaper reports in 1936 state that Mrs Kleeman was buried where the Mulberry Tree stands, the tree being planted on her grave.

Descendants of Johann Christian (c.1808-1888) who also arrived on the Solway, claim from their family history that he planted the tree, and that he buried his wife Karoline (c.1851-1849) at the base of the tree.
Some consider this unlikely as the nearby Kangaroo Island Pioneers Cemetery had already been in use for the past 12 years.

The descendants of Charles George Everard (1794-1876), who arrived on the Africaine, claim that he was responsible for planting the first mulberry tree, brought from the Cape of Good Hope, although lamenting that it was cut down, which would confirm that there was more than one mulberry tree.

Descendants of Thomas Hudson Beare (1792-1861), who arrived on the Duke of York, lay claim to the first planting, although it is likely that he instructed the South Australian Company gardener, Charles Binden Powell (1810-1898), who also arrived on the Duke of York, to do the planting, which probably occurred within a few days after the arrival of the Duke of York on 27  July 1836.
Controversy remains as to the person who planted the mulberry tree, and when.
Some believe the tree was planted some time in 1837 and is all that is left of an orchard planted by Johann Menge (1788-1852), South Australia's first geologist.
The descendants of Friedrich Kleeman lay claim to the first planting. Friedrich's wife, Maria née Helm died  the day before the arrival of the Solway in 16 October 1837 and her remains were brought ashore and buried. An obituary notice of Friedericke Wilhelmine Till (Friedrich's daughter) who died in 1928 stated that her mother was buried in the Old Cemetey at Kingscote, near the Mulberry Tree, which was brought out by the Kleeman family from Germany. Other newspaper reports in 1936 state that Mrs Kleeman was buried where the Mulberry Tree stands, the tree being planted on her grave.
Descendants of Johann Christian (c.1808-1888) who also arrived on the Solway, claim from their family history that he planted the tree, and that he buried his wife Karoline (c.1851-1849) at the base of the tree. Some consider this unlikely as the nearby Kangaroo Island Pioneers Cemetery had already been in use for the past 12 years.
The descendants of Charles George Everard (1794-1876), who arrived on the Africaine, claim that he was responsible for planting the first mulberry tree, brought from the Cape of Good Hope, although lamenting that it was cut down, which would confirm that there was more than one mulberry tree.
Descendants of Thomas Hudson Beare (1792-1861), who arrived on the Duke of York, lay claim to the first planting, although it is likely that he instructed the South Australian Company gardener, Charles Binden Powell (1810-1898), who also arrived on the Duke of York, to do the planting, which probably occurred within a few days after the arrival of the Duke of York on 27  July 1836.
Old Mulberry Tree at Reeves Point