Morus rubraIndiana NativeIndiana Native
Red Mulberry

 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Green (Dioecious; in early spring; not ornamentally important)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Summer; attractive dark green); Yellow (Fall; inconsistent)
 Stem Notes:
stout, thinly pubescent
 Fruit Notes:
Purple (Attractive red to dark purple, resembling blackberries; edible)
 Ultimate Height:
40-70 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
40-50 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Fruiting Times:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Prefers moist, well-drained soils, but is fairly adaptable
 Range:
Eastern United States
 Maintenance:
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves are 3-5" long, alternate, simple, ovate, sometimes 2- to 3-lobed, toothed (primarily on younger shoots), and softly pubescent on the underside. Buds are 0.25-0.33" long, brown-black, glabrous, and imbricate. The thick brown stems are covered in a fine pubescence and exude a milky sap when broken. Bark is reddish brown.

Additional Information

The Red Mulberry is fairly adaptable and can sometimes be a prolific self-seeder. To prevent bleeding, it should be pruned in late fall or winter. Although somewhat more sensitive to soil requirements, Morus rubra is considered to be a better choice than the related Morus alba (White Mulberry), which has a much more invasive character. Morus rubra is dioecious, so male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. Female trees, if fertilized, bear edible fruits that are attractive to birds and humans. The blackberry-like fruits have a short half-life, but are sweet and can be eaten fresh, or in jellies, jams, and wines.

When Morus rubra has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Week 1 flowering not presentWeek 2 flowering not presentWeek 3 flowering not presentWeek 4 flowering not presentWeek 5 flowering not presentWeek 6 flowering not presentWeek 7 flowering not presentWeek 8 flowering not presentWeek 9 flowering not presentWeek 10 flowering not presentWeek 11 flowering not presentWeek 12 flowering not presentWeek 13 flowering not presentWeek 14 flowering not presentWeek 15 flowering not presentWeek 16 flowering presentWeek 17 flowering presentWeek 18 flowering presentWeek 19 flowering presentWeek 20 flowering presentWeek 21 flowering not presentWeek 22 flowering presentWeek 23 flowering not presentWeek 24 flowering not presentWeek 25 flowering not presentWeek 26 flowering not presentWeek 27 flowering not presentWeek 28 flowering not presentWeek 29 flowering not presentWeek 30 flowering not presentWeek 31 flowering not presentWeek 32 flowering not presentWeek 33 flowering not presentWeek 34 flowering not presentWeek 35 flowering not presentWeek 36 flowering not presentWeek 37 flowering not presentWeek 38 flowering not presentWeek 39 flowering not presentWeek 40 flowering not presentWeek 41 flowering not presentWeek 42 flowering not presentWeek 43 flowering not presentWeek 44 flowering not presentWeek 45 flowering not presentWeek 46 flowering not presentWeek 47 flowering not presentWeek 48 flowering not presentWeek 49 flowering not presentWeek 50 flowering not presentWeek 51 flowering not presentWeek 52 flowering not present

Fruiting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Week 1 fruiting not presentWeek 2 fruiting not presentWeek 3 fruiting not presentWeek 4 fruiting not presentWeek 5 fruiting not presentWeek 6 fruiting not presentWeek 7 fruiting not presentWeek 8 fruiting not presentWeek 9 fruiting not presentWeek 10 fruiting not presentWeek 11 fruiting not presentWeek 12 fruiting not presentWeek 13 fruiting not presentWeek 14 fruiting not presentWeek 15 fruiting not presentWeek 16 fruiting not presentWeek 17 fruiting not presentWeek 18 fruiting not presentWeek 19 fruiting not presentWeek 20 fruiting not presentWeek 21 fruiting not presentWeek 22 fruiting not presentWeek 23 fruiting not presentWeek 24 fruiting not presentWeek 25 fruiting not presentWeek 26 fruiting not presentWeek 27 fruiting not presentWeek 28 fruiting presentWeek 29 fruiting presentWeek 30 fruiting presentWeek 31 fruiting presentWeek 32 fruiting presentWeek 33 fruiting presentWeek 34 fruiting presentWeek 35 fruiting presentWeek 36 fruiting not presentWeek 37 fruiting not presentWeek 38 fruiting not presentWeek 39 fruiting not presentWeek 40 fruiting not presentWeek 41 fruiting not presentWeek 42 fruiting not presentWeek 43 fruiting not presentWeek 44 fruiting not presentWeek 45 fruiting not presentWeek 46 fruiting not presentWeek 47 fruiting not presentWeek 48 fruiting not presentWeek 49 fruiting not presentWeek 50 fruiting not presentWeek 51 fruiting not presentWeek 52 fruiting not present

1 Morus rubra found

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= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
1ORIG_6843*ANLSN
Heritage Plant

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