Images of the White Mulberry (Morus alba)

White Mulberry

Morus alba

This fast-growing tree is native to China and was introduced into North America as an ornamental plant with attractive fruits. Trees grow 10-20 m tall and produce many deep purple fruits 1-2.5 cm in length. Its leaves are the preferred food for silkworms and, in Asia, these trees are often cultivated as a source of fodder for this silk-producing insect.

Habitat:Grows in a wide variety of habitats.

Growth Habit:Deciduous tree, growing to 12 m tall, with low branches.

Bloom Time:Mid-spring.

Longevity:Moderate.

Presence in US:AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Presence in Canada:BC ON QC

This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).