Morus rubra
Red Mulberry
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Red Mulberry is a small to medium, deciduous tree. It can be monoecious or dioecious. Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers on...
Description:
Red Mulberry is a small to medium, deciduous tree. It can be monoecious or dioecious. Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers on the same tree. Dioecious plants have separate male and female trees. Small, greenish, male and female flowers appear March-April. The fertilized female flowers bear juicy fruit edible to humans and wildlife. Red Mulberry is an important host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars) of the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa). Although the fruits can be messy on the ground, the benefits that this tree provides to wildlife far outweigh the nuisance; plant away from your house, buildings, or cars to avoid any staining. Try planting this wildlife-friendly tree in naturalized areas of your yard, or near the perimeter.
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Tree
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Spring
Bloom Colors: Green
Deer Resistance: None
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Butterflies, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Partial Shade
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 35 - 50 ft
Spread: 35 - 40 ft
Growth Rate: Medium