White Mulberry

White Mulberry

Morus alba

Moraceae (Fig Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ seedlings

▲ young plant in fallow field area in Missouri

▲ white mulberry trees had virtually no damage after 2007 ice storm in Springfield, MO

Location on or near Missouri State University campus: a number of mature trees in the residential areas around campus, plus seedlings on campus and everywhere

White Mulberry: (not in Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

  • small to medium sized tree with glossy green, deeply lobed to un-lobed leaves with serrate margins; leaf undersides lighter green ; petioles 0.5-1 inch long
  • twigs yellow-brown and bark becomes orange-brown and furrowed with age
  • wood is bright yellow
  • is dioecious, with female trees bearing elongated white, red or purple blackberry-like fruit favored by birds, who help distribute seeds
  • bulldozing, cutting do not kill; will sprout back from roots, cut stumps
  • can be difficult to kill with herbicides--usually need repeated application along with cutting
  • initially brought over as a food source for silk worms from Asia, but escaped cultivation
  • male trees can be nice medium-sized landscape trees, and may have good yellow fall color
  • can hold up very well in ice storms, with very little damage or breakage

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