White Mulberry
Morus alba · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Moraceae
Tree Category
Fruit Tree, Shade Tree, Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
None specified (Wild-type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 9; highly adaptable to urban heat and cold winters.
About This Tree
A medium-sized, fast-growing tree with a dense, spreading, rounded crown. Often exhibits a somewhat messy growth habit with multiple suckers and invasive tendencies. Known for its distinctively variable leaf shapes.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, 2 to 7 inches long; polymorphic (variable) shapes ranging from unlobed/ovate to deeply lobed with irregular sinuses; glossy dark green surface with serrated margins; turns yellow in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Light gray to orange-brown; smooth on young branches, becoming deeply furrowed into long, irregular, flattened ridges as it matures.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China; naturalized and often invasive in North America and Europe
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers late spring (April-May); fruits in early summer (June-July); enters dormancy in late autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained soils but is highly drought-tolerant once established; adaptable to wide variety of soil pH.
Mature Size
Mature height of 30-50 feet with a spread of 35-40 feet; fast growth rate; lifespan typically 50-75 years.
Special Characteristics
Highly resistant to air pollution and salt; produces edible aggregate fruits (white, pink, or purple); historical importance in the silk industry as the primary food for silkworms.
Wildlife & Ecology
Fruits are a high-value food source for numerous bird species (waxwings, robins) and small mammals; host plant for the silkworm moth (Bombyx mori); provides dense nesting cover.