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Morus alba is often confused with:
Ficus carica Form
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Elaeagnus umbellata Eleagnus umbellata
Eriobotrya japonica leaves
Morus rubra Morus rubra
Morus alba has some common insect problems:
Mulberry Whitefly

White Mulberry Morus alba

Phonetic Spelling
MOR-us AL-bah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

White Mulberry is a mid-size, flowering tree with a rounded form and a short, crooked trunk in the mulberry family. It is  native to China and can reach a mature height of 50 or 60 feet with an equal spread. The plant was brought to the United States many years ago, where it naturalized in fields, forest margins, and along road throughout the country. Plants exude a milky sap from young twigs when broken.  Male and female yellowish green flowers bloom in the spring, but form on separate plants. The fruit is produced by the female plant. Fall leaf color is yellow (sometimes green, yellow and brown). The species name comes from the Latin for white in reference to fruit color.

White Mulberry grows best in full sun to partial shade, in rich, moist, well-drained soils. It can be pruned in late fall or winter to avoid the bleeding of milky sap. These trees tolerate heat, drought and will grow in a wide range of soils, including alkaline ones. It does have a shallow root system.

The fruits are relished by birds, but dropped fruit can cause maintenance issues such as staining concrete walkways, patios, and cars; be aware of where the canopy will extend when choosing the location to plant one of these trees. The tree can become weedy.  Herbicides are not effective, and the best preventative management is to hand pull seedlings when young. Wisconsin considers the plant to be a noxious weed and invasive and restricts its planting or movement.

This plant may be seen in naturalized areas. It is resistant to drought and pollution, while also attracting songbirds. It develops quickly, but is relatively short-lived. It is able to hybridize with the native red mulberry.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Borers and whiteflies can be problems. Bacterial blight may kill foliage/branches. Coral spot cankers may cause twig dieback.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Chaparral'
    Dwarf with weeping form. Considered to be a better home landscape choice.
  • 'Itoguwa' NUCLEAR BLAST
    Container-grown dwarf, twisted form, does not flower or fruit.
  • 'Pendula'
    Dwarf, weeping, 6 to 10 feet high. Considered to be a better home landscape choice.
  • 'Unryu'
    Gnarled, contorted, zig-zag branching. 30 to 40 feet tall, although can be pruned to small shrub.
'Chaparral', 'Itoguwa' NUCLEAR BLAST, 'Pendula', 'Unryu'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#fruit tree#fast growing#messy#edible fruits#edible garden#deciduous tree#bird friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#weed#wildlife friendly#branching
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Chaparral'
    Dwarf with weeping form. Considered to be a better home landscape choice.
  • 'Itoguwa' NUCLEAR BLAST
    Container-grown dwarf, twisted form, does not flower or fruit.
  • 'Pendula'
    Dwarf, weeping, 6 to 10 feet high. Considered to be a better home landscape choice.
  • 'Unryu'
    Gnarled, contorted, zig-zag branching. 30 to 40 feet tall, although can be pruned to small shrub.
'Chaparral', 'Itoguwa' NUCLEAR BLAST, 'Pendula', 'Unryu'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#fruit tree#fast growing#messy#edible fruits#edible garden#deciduous tree#bird friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#weed#wildlife friendly#branching
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Morus
    Species:
    alba
    Family:
    Moraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Leaves are used to feed the silk worm
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan.
    Distribution:
    Eastern and central Canada and the United States, Mexico, South America, Northern Africa, Central Europe.
    Wildlife Value:
    Food source of the Bombyx mori moth (silkworms). Birds love the fruit. Also eaten by opossum, raccoon, fox squirrel, and gray squirrel; white-tailed deer browse on the leaves and twigs, while beavers gnaw on the wood.
    Edibility:
    Ripe fruits are eaten raw or made into pies, jellies, and jams. Dried fruits can be added to bread, cookies, or puddings like raisins.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Poisonous
    Tree
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    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 pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fertilized flowers on female trees produce sweet, edible blackberry-like fruits (cylindrical drupes to 1inch long) that mature in June. Fruits ripen to white or pink, but sometimes to darker reds or purple-blacks.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Small, yellow-green flowers in a tight, drooping cluster blossom in March to April.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Smooth
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, simple, toothed leaves, either unlobed, mitten-shaped, or 3-lobed, usually smooth above and hairless below. Glossy and rounded leaves are 8 inches long with serrate margins and uneven (sometimes cordate) bases. Glossy leaf surfaces distinguish this tree from red mulberry.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
    Bark Description:
    Trunk bark is usually greyish-brown with flattened ridges and shallow vertical furrows; on very old trees, the bark becomes gray and coarse with curving deep furrows.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Lenticels:
    Conspicuous
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Abundant branches. The bark of branches and twigs is brown and relatively smooth; small white lenticels are visible on smaller branches and twigs.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Pollution
    Problems:
    Messy
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Children
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Hallucinations and stomach upset from unripe berries and milky sap. Both the leaves and young shoots contain a white latex that is mildly toxic.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unidentified
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice
    Stems