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Red mulberry (Morus rubra) is the mulberry of eastern North America. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree of the family Moraceae, growing to 10-15 metres tall. The upper surface of its leaf is noticeably rough, and the underside is densely covered with soft hairs. The leaves of white mulberry, by contrast, have a lustrous upper surface.

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Range

Red mulberry is found from Ontario, Minnesota and Vermont south to southern Florida, and west as far as southeastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and central Texas. The native red mulberry is mostly found in riparian areas and is considered rare and threatened in many areas, including the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is considered endangered in Canada. It is susceptible to hybridization with the invasive white mulberry, introduced from Asia.

The fruit

The fruit is a compound cluster of several small achenes surrounded by a fleshy calyx, similar in appearance to a blackberry. The fruit is 2 to 3 cm long. It is initially pale green, ripening to red or dark purple. Red mulberries are usually deep red, sweet, and juicy. The berries are widely sought after by birds in spring and early summer in North America. Unripe fruits and the milky sap are poisonous. The berries are not sold commercially because their shelf lives are very short and they ship poorly.

The wood

The wood may be dried and used for smoking meats with a flavour that is mild and sweet. It is also used for fenceposts because the heartwood is relatively durable. Other uses of the wood include farm implements, cooperage, furniture, interior finish, and caskets.

Botany and cultivation

Red mulberry can live for up to 125 years. The tree is pollinated by the wind, and its pollen is a severe allergen. Its lateral roots remain within the upper 24 inches of the soil. Seeds can be sown in the fall without stratification, and the tree can also be propagated from stem cuttings. Mulberries are not closely related to raspberries or blackberries: the mulberry belongs to the family Moraceae, while raspberries and blackberries belong to the Rosaceae.