Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Urticales>Moraceae>Morus rubra L.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) leaf

Red Mulberry in an uncommon medium-sized understory tree. The leaves are similar in shape to the naturalized White Mulberry (Morus alba), but are rough above and not glossy, and also similar to Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), but are not as rough-hairy.

Confusing the situation, Red Mulberry and White Mulberry often hybridize, resulting in trees with intermediate characteristics. In some areas hybrids are more common than either parent species. Red Mulberry is listed as a species at risk in Ontario in large part due to hybridization.

Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) leaves

As with Sassafras, the leaves are highly variable - these three were taken from one tree.

Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) staminate flowers

Staminate (male) flowers. Flowers appear in April.

Durham, NC 4/4/07.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) male flowers

Staminate flowers. Mulberries are dioecious - male and female flowers are normally on separate trees.

Durham, NC.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) female flowers

Pistillate (female flowers).

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) leaves

Carteret Co., NC 9/28/08.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) leaves

Carteret Co., NC 9/28/08.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) leaves

Carteret Co., NC 9/28/08.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) leaves

Carteret Co., NC 9/28/08.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) flowers

Staminate flowers.

Durham, NC 4/14/2011.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) female flowers

Developing fruits.

Orange Co., NC 5/8/04.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) fruit

The tasty aggregate fruits produced from female flowers are black when mature and look a lot like blackberries.

Person Co., NC 6/13/06.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) fruit

Fruit detail.

Person Co., NC 6/13/06.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) bark

Bark of a young tree.

Carteret Co., NC 9/28/08.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) bark
Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) bark

Bark of a small tree.

Person Co., NC 6/13/06.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) bark

Bark of older trees is rough, with long ridges.

Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) bark

Durham, NC 4/14/2011.

More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
US Forest Service Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides