Red Mulberry
Morus rubra
Moraceae (The Fig Family)
▲ Young tree in Stone County, MO
▲▼ leaves showing polymorphic shapes (multiple shapes)
▲▼ leaves showing polymorphic shapes (multiple shapes)
▲ leaves showing polymorphic shapes (multiple shapes)
▲ good yellow fall color on some trees
▲ branches, leaf undersides on medium-sized, mature tree
Location near Missouri State University campus: corner of Bennett and Holland, at southwest corner of Phelps Grove Park; also along wooded area just west of south parking area at the Botanical Center
Morus rubra:
Red Mulberry
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leaves alternate, simple, deciduous, polymorphic in general ovate shape,
but sometimes with 2-5 lobes, serrate margins; leaves 3-5 inches long and 2/3 as
wide, with elongated, pointed tip; rough-textured to smooth green above and
green on undersides, with 1 inch long petioles
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dioecious, with
male and female flowers on separate trees
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stems tan or gray; glabrous; often with white sap when cut
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bark gray-brown or gray on young branches, gray and furrowed with age
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grows 40-70 feet tall and 2/3 to equally wide, with open, rounded canopy
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has red to purple clustered, blackberry-like fruit that are usually more
flavorful than white mulberry
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prefers full sun to part shade, and does best in fertile, moist,
well-drained soil
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medium growth rate
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native to Missouri