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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withFicus caricaFicus carica 'Brown Turkey'
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
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Fall color
Cream/Tan
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Small, yellow-green flowers in a tight, drooping cluster blossom in March to April.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
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.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
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 color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Abundant branches. The bark of branches and twigs is brown and relatively smooth; small white lenticels are visible on smaller branches and twigs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
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.
Attracts
Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
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.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Leaves are used to feed the silk worm
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Asian Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Shade Tree
Garden tags
#messy #drought tolerant #edible fruits #fruit tree #edible garden #bird friendly #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #wildlife friendly #deciduous tree #fast growing #branching #weedy #HS304 #hortcontest
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Mulberry Whitefly
Problems
Messy; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Children; Weedy
Resistant to
Drought; Pollution
Propagation
Layering; Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Fruits; Leaves; Sap/Juice; Stems
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.