Red Mulberry
Red Mulberry
Morus rubra
Moraceae (The Fig Family)
▲ Young tree in Stone County, MO
▲ ▼ leaves showing polymorphic shapes (multiple shapes)
▲ ▼ leaves showing polymorphic shapes (multiple shapes)
▲ leaves showing polymorphic shapes (multiple shapes)
▲ good yellow fall color on some trees
▲ branches, leaf undersides on medium-sized, mature tree
Location near Missouri State University campus: corner of Bennett and Holland, at southwest corner of Phelps Grove Park; also along wooded area just west of south parking area at the Botanical Center
Morus rubra: Red Mulberry
- leaves alternate, simple, deciduous, polymorphic in general ovate shape, but sometimes with 2-5 lobes, serrate margins; leaves 3-5 inches long and 2/3 as wide, with elongated, pointed tip; rough-textured to smooth green above and green on undersides, with 1 inch long petioles
- dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees
- stems tan or gray; glabrous; often with white sap when cut
- bark gray-brown or gray on young branches, gray and furrowed with age
- grows 40-70 feet tall and 2/3 to equally wide, with open, rounded canopy
- has red to purple clustered, blackberry-like fruit that are usually more flavorful than white mulberry
- prefers full sun to part shade, and does best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- medium growth rate
- native to Missouri