White Mulberry

(Morus alba)

Moraceae (Fig Family)

▲ seedlings

▲ young plant in fallow field area in Missouri

▲ mature tree

White Mulberry:  (Not in Weeds of the Great Plains—nor Weeds of the Northeast)

·         small to medium sized tree with glossy green, deeply lobed to un-lobed leaves with serrate margins; leaf undersides lighter green

·         twigs yellow-brown and bark becomes orange-brown and furrowed with age

·         wood is bright yellow

·         is dioecious, with female trees bearing elongated white, red or purple raspberry-like fruit favored by birds, who help distribute seeds

·         bulldozing, cutting do not kill;  will sprout back from roots, cut stumps

·         can be difficult to kill with herbicides—usually need repeated application along with cutting

·         initially brought over as a food source for silk worms from Asia, but escaped cultivation