Red Mulberry Tree

Morus rubra

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Tree

Height at Maturity: 35-50′

Width at Maturity: 30-40′

Spacing: –

Growth Habit / Form: Broad Rounded

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Flower Color: Gold-Yellow

Foliage Color: Green

Fall Foliage Color: Golden Yellow

Fruit Color: Dark Red
Fruit Size: 1 to 3″

Sun Needs: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist but Well-Drained

Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0

Attracts: Butterflies, Songbirds

Maintenance / Care: Low

Description

Morus rubra, Red Mulberry, is a North American native tree ranging from the mid-Atlantic to Florida and west to Nebraska and Texas, though today it is an uncommon sight in the landscape. In garden design, the Red Mulberry is used for both its ornamental value and its delicious fruit that tastes like sweet blackberries. The berries can be eaten fresh off the tree or used to make pies, jellies or jams, and in breads, muffins, and cakes. Red Mulberry is also the larval host of Mourning Cloak butterflies and the birds relish the berries. All grown up, this species can reach 50 feet in height but is more often seen at 35 feet or lower with an equal spread.

Note: Red Mulberry can dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are on separate trees, or monoecious, meaning male and female flowers on the same tree. What’s really unusual is that some trees can change from one sex to another. High temperatures, strong sunlight, and long days favor maleness in mulberries, with the opposites, as well as high humidity, bringing out female flowers.

Growing Preferences

Red Mulberry tree is very easy to grow likes an organically rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. That said, it will thrive equally as well in clay soils. The more sun the better for best berry production. Mulberry trees are either dioecious or monoecious, and sometimes a tree even will change from one sex to another. Hight temperatures, strong light, and long days favor maleness in mulberries, with their opposites, as well as high humidity, bringing out female flowers. USDA Zones: 4a-8b Find Your Zone

Helpful Articles

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I was pleasantly surprised how big a beautiful this tree was when it arrived. It even had a few berries on it! It’s been in the ground for a few weeks and is doing great. Now I just need to figure out how to keep the birds from eating all the mulberries! This is my second purchase from Wilson Bros and they are now my go to for all plants and trees.—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered a 3 gallon red mulberry and a 3 gallon Jane magnolia. I received my order quickly and the plants were packaged extremely well. I have ordered plants from other companies before and none were ever packaged as well as these plants. When I took these trees out of the package you would’ve never guessed they were boxed and shipped from Georgia to New Hampshire. Thank you for taking such care in packaging, as a result both trees are doing very well!——————————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Our 3 gal pot mulberry trees arrived healthy and packed very nicely. They are about 3-4ft tall. Shipping was super fast. We planted our trees the same day they arrived as our holes for them were dug the previous day. Not even a week later from planting them we are seeing berries!! Hubby got the first berry (only one was ripe) as he was so excited to have his childhood tree back. Exactly as he remembers them. Will definitely order from Wilson bros. again! Thank you!————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I love the native mulberries, They’re beautiful, prolific and bird, bee friendly. Add yummy fruit and how can you lose. My tree was perfectly packed and within a week or so was putting out leaves. WBG, you’re the best.——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG