White Mulberry (Common Mulberry, Silkworm Mulberry)
Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Angiosperms, Class: Eudicots, Order: Rosales, Family: Moraceae, Genus: Morus, Species: Morus alba · Moraceae (Mulberry family) · Simple, deciduous
Species
Morus alba
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Family
Moraceae (Mulberry family)
Shape
Highly polymorphic; can be ovate, cordate, or deeply lobed with irregular sinuses. The specimen shown is primarily ovate to broadly cordate.
Size
Typically 2 to 7 inches long and 2 to 5 inches wide. This specimen appears to be in the 4-5 inch range.
Margin
Coarsely serrate (toothed) or dentate
Arrangement
Alternate
Rarity
Very Common; often regarded as a weed tree in suburban and urban environments.
Color & Pattern
Bright to lime green upper surface, typically glossy. Mature leaves are darker. Undersides are paler. No distinct variegation.
Venation Pattern
Palmate at the base transitioning to pinnate; three prominent veins usually originate from the base (actinodromous).
Texture & Surface
The upper surface is smooth and shiny (glabrous), which distinguishes it from the rough-textured Red Mulberry. Texture is slightly papery to leathery.
Description
A fast-growing, small to medium-sized tree with a rounded crown. Known for its 'polymorphic' leaves, meaning a single branch can have both unlobed and deeply lobed leaves. The bark is orange-brown and furrowed. It produces berry-like drupes that turn from white to pinkish-purple.
Key Features
Glossy upper leaf surface, irregular lobing on the same branch, orange-tinted inner bark, and milky sap (latex) expelled from broken petioles.
Habitat
Disturbed areas, forest edges, roadsides, and urban landscapes. Highly adaptable to various soil types and pH levels.
Geographic Range
Native to China; widely naturalized across North America, Europe, and much of the world. Considered invasive in many parts of the United States.
Condition Notes
The leaves appear mostly healthy with a 'Good' health grade, though some minor curling and mechanical wear are visible at the margins.
Interesting Facts
Introduced to North America in the 1700s in an unsuccessful attempt to establish a silk industry, as its leaves are the primary food source for silkworms (Bombyx mori).
Medicinal & Uses
Used for silkworm cultivation and landscaping. Berries are edible when ripe. Bark and leaves have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating coughs and blood sugar levels.
Ecological Role
Provides abundant food for birds and mammals who disperse the seeds. However, it hybridizes with the native Red Mulberry, threatening the genetic integrity of the native species.
Similar Species
Red Mulberry (Morus rubra), which has larger, dull, sandpapery leaves; Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), which has very velvety/hairy leaves.
Foraging Tips
Look for the berries in late spring/early summer. Only harvest berries that are fully ripe (usually dark purple/black, though some cultivars stay white) as they drop easily when shaken.
Toxicity Warning
Non-toxic when berries are fully ripe. However, unripe fruit and the milky white sap in stems/leaves contain mild hallucinogens and can cause stomach upset or skin irritation in some individuals.