Discover the beauty of native eastern North American flora with the Morus rubra American Mulberry, also known as Red Mulberry. With red fruits turning dark purple and a more open and irregular shape than M. alba, this hardy, deciduous tree is loved by birds and thrives in moist soil. Not only are the fruits edible and have a delicious taste, but the fibrous bark can also be used to make cloth. where it prefers moist, wooded slopes, wood’s edges, and shady roadways. It is very tolerant of shade and is usually found as a small, understory tree, but it can attain a height of 60 feet. When trees are heavily shaded, leaves are commonly 10 inches long. Leaves occur in three general shapes– non-lobed, mitten (single lobed), and three-lobed. Although common in the United States, it is an endangered species in Canada and susceptible to hybridization with the invasive white mulberry. Enjoy the rich history and versatility of the Morus rubra, American Mulberry, in your garden or landscape.
