North Carolina Wildflowers

Moraceae > Morus

The only native species of the family in NC, Red Mulberry flowers in spring and produces fruit in the summer. Ripe fruits are purple or black. Red Mulberry is found statewide in North Carolina, growing in various habitats from bottomlands to suburban woodlots.

Unlike the non-native White Mulberry, leaves of Red Mulberry are not shiny above. To the touch, they feel rough or sandpapery. Leaves are also toothed, fairly round, often with a heart-shaped base, and acuminate (elongated tipped).

Young leaves and flower clusters appear in spring.

Leaves of sprouts are often strongly lobed with one or two (or occasionally more) lobes.

Bark of young to medium trees is fairly smooth but with bumps from lenticels.

Bark of medium tree eventually develops longitudinal lines and shallow splits.

Older bark is rougher and more furrowed and slightly peeling.

This large Red Mulberry is being worked on by beavers.

White Mulberry is an exotic invasive from China, now found statewide in disturbed areas in North Carolina. Unlike the native Red Mulberry, White Mulberry leaves tend to be shiny and smooth above.

Mature fruits of White Mulberry are tasty and may be white, pink, red, purple, or nearly black!

Twigs have prominent lenticels.

Bud detail and older twig with developed lenticels to the right of the bud with younger twig to the left.

Leaves are variably lobed, from zero to up to five or even seven lobes. Canopy leaves of older trees tend to be unlobed while leaves of stump sprouts or lower branches are often lobed.