Morus Alba

White Mulberry

Morus alba is a fast-growing deciduous fruiting tree with a rounded to spreading crown, irregular branching, and glossy green leaves that may be oval, heart-shaped, or variably lobed on the same tree. Small greenish catkins appear in spring, followed by blackberry-like fruits that may ripen white, pink, red, purple, or black depending on the tree. While the fruit is attractive to birds and wildlife, white mulberry is non-native and invasive in many parts of North America, where it spreads by seed and can compete with native plants and hybridize with native red mulberry.

Type: Deciduous fruiting tree
Mature Size: 30–50 ft. wide × 30–50 ft. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–9b
Form: Rounded to spreading crown; often irregular, dense, and fast-growing
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil / Water: Adaptable to many soils, including sandy, clay, and disturbed soils; low to medium water once established
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; inconspicuous catkins, followed by fruit in late spring to summer
Wildlife: Fruit is eaten and spread by birds and other wildlife; flowers may be visited by bees

Features & Landscape Uses:
Historically used as a shade tree, fruiting tree, windbreak, livestock shelterbelt, and food source for silkworms. However, it is usually not recommended for ornamental planting where it is invasive. Fruit can stain pavement, patios, cars, and sidewalks, and seedlings may appear readily in disturbed soil, fence lines, woodland edges, and unmanaged areas.

Care:
If already present, prune during dormancy to remove dead, weak, crossing, or low limbs. Avoid planting female fruiting trees near walks, driveways, patios, or septic fields because of messy fruit and spreading roots. In natural areas, remove seedlings while small to reduce spread.

Height

30-50'

Width

30-50'

Hardiness zones

3–9

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Yellow

Fruit color

Brown

Soil

Highly Adaptable

Landscape use

Fruit, Provide Shade

Shape

Compact Rounded, Spreading, Weeping

Bark

Smooth

Fruit

Yes

Salt tolerant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No