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Morus rubra 'Illinois Everbearing'

Phonetic Spelling
MOR-russ ROO-bruh
Description

Morus rubra 'Illinois Everbearing', or Illinois Everbearing red mulberry is a native tree species and has both edible and ornamental features. It can live up to 125 years but the weedy invasive character is not appealing. It is more cold hardy than black mulberry.

The bark is gray-brown with long, scaly ridges.  This tree produces a 1" to 1.25" long cluster of drupes that matures in the summer.  The fruit resembles a blackberry.

 

 

 

 

More information on Morus rubra.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#showy fruits#messy#edible garden#larval host plant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#showy fruits#messy#edible garden#larval host plant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Morus
    Species:
    rubra
    Family:
    Moraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.  It is a possible host plant for the Red Admiral butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by many birds, especially gray catbirds and northern mockingbirds, foxes, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels.
    Edibility:
    Jams. jellies and wine from ripe berries
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Oval
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    It produces numerous reddish-black fruit that looks like a blackberry but slender over a long period with a size of 1 1/4''
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    The small yellowish-green cylindrical flower of the Illinois Everbearing red mulberry is not showy. Male flower and female flower can bloom on the same tree or different trees.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    Has alternate, broad, simple green leaves with a notch at the base and a finely serrated margin. The upper surface is rough, the undersurface is full of soft hair.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Salt