Red Mulberry is a medium-sized native tree found throughout the eastern United States, typically growing 30–60 feet tall. It thrives in rich soils and is often found in woodlands and along stream banks.

The tree has large, variable leaves that may be unlobed or deeply lobed (leaf divisions), with a rough texture and serrated edges. In spring, it produces small, inconspicuous flowers that develop into elongated, blackberry-like fruits.

By early summer, the fruits ripen to a deep red or purple and are sweet and edible, serving as an important food source for birds and wildlife. In fall, the leaves turn yellow. Red Mulberry is valued for its ecological role and fruit production.

References

Morus rubra (Common Mulberry, Mulberry, Red Mulberry) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Plants.ces.ncsu.edu. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/morus-rubra/

Red mulberry | The Morton Arboretum. (2024, February 21). The Morton Arboretum. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/red-mulberry/

Words by Ben Hansen.  Photos by Sarah Cote. 2026