Red Mulberry
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Average mature size of 40-70' tall and 40-50' wide. Fast growth rate, about 2' per year. Short lifespan, matures at 75 years.

Native Range

Kentucky Native — Native from Massachusetts to Florida, west to Michigan, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers are small, yellow-green, dense, eliptic catkins, 0.75-1" long, late May to early June. Fruits are 1" long, green, ripening to orange and red, then turning dark purple. Juicy, edible, and relished by birds.

Leaf and Bark Features

Fall color is usually a subdued yellow, but can develop a to a golden-yellow in good years. Bark is brown, thinly pubescent when young. Older bark is gray-brown, ridged and furrowed with flattened ridges.

Culture and Care

Prefers a rich, moist soil. Zones 5-9.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Good wildlife value.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA