Morus rubra: Red Mulberry

Latin name: Morus rubra
Common name: Red mulberry
Flowers: Small greenish flowers on catkin-like spikes¹²
Fruit or cones: Red to purple 1” long fruits on female trees⁸
Height & Width: 40-70’ x 40-50’⁸
Type: Deciduous⁸
Wetland indicator category** or ***: FAC¹⁷ 
Habit: Upright-rounded^{10, 12}
Texture: Medium to coarse¹²
Growth rate: Medium¹⁸
Light: Full sun to part shade^{10, 12}
Moisture: Medium¹²
Soil*: Tolerates a variety of soil types¹⁰
Zones: 5 - 9⁸
Origin: Midwestern to Southeastern United States, including South Carolina¹⁶
Features: Red mulberry is a medium-sized understory tree that provides sweet, edible fruits for human and animal consumption^{8, 12}. The inconspicuous flowers are a nectar source for butterflies, but the fruit is especially beneficial to songbirds.^{8, 12}

Siting: Morus rubra performs best in rich, moist soil with full sun to part shade conditions^{8, 12}. Female trees should be placed where fruit mess and stains will not be a nuisance.¹²

Care: Plant so root flare is visible at soil surface¹⁴. At planting, water the root ball daily with two gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter for two weeks, every other day for two months and then weekly until established. Modify water recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area. Do not allow mulch to touch the trunk.¹⁴

Pests: Bacterial blight on leaves, leaf spots, cankers, powdery mildew, mites and borers are possible pests, especially in southern states^{8, 12}.

Author: Allison Kelly

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