Red Mulberry
Size: 18-24”
Age: 1-0
Soil Moisture: Moist
Back by Popular Demand!
Not to be confused with the somewhat-invasive Asian/White Mulberry, the Red Mulberry is native to Michigan, but has all but disappeared. It is listed as threatened/protected in Michigan. There are currently no known naturally occurring Red Mulberries in Eaton County and they have only been spotted in 16 Michigan counties. Red Mulberry trees have delicious edible fruit (for humans and wildlife), red bark, and are an understory tree that grows in shady, moist areas.
***This tree must be planted in full shade. Please note this statement provided by our friends at Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) -
“Red mulberry is a State Threatened species, but only naturally occurring populations are considered protected. It is important to avoid confusing planted populations with natural ones. Please plant these in clearly artificial settings, such as backyards, and avoid planting them in natural settings such as forests. To prevent introducing non-local genes to our natural populations, please also avoid planting them near naturally occurring populations of red mulberry.”
Red mulberry (Morusrubra) is a medium-sized tree with a short trunk and a broad, rounded crown. Leaves are alternate, simple, 4–8 inches long, usually lacking lobes but some leaves with 1–3 lobes; teeth dense; tip pointed. Three main veins arise from the base. Undersurface hairy, paler than above. Bleeds milky sap. Leaf stalk hairy. Turn yellowish or lime green in the fall. Bark is thin, dark brown to gray with an orange tint, grooves shallow, ridges narrow, tight, sometimes with loose scales. Twigs are reddish-brown to light greenish-brown, smooth, slender, bleeding milky sap.
Flowers April–May; male and female flowers on the same tree or on different trees. Male catkins 2–3 inches long; female catkins ⅜ inch long. Fruits June–August, blackberry-like; red at first, ripening to purplish-black, cylindrical; ¾–1¼ inches long.
Occurs in moist woods in lowland areas or on moist upland slopes. Height: up to 60ft. Do not plant under power lines.
*A mature height of less than 15 feet is recommended for trees planted near power lines. Tall growing trees should be planted a minimum of 20 feet away from power lines, and 50 feet away to avoid future pruning.
*This plant will be packaged as "bare root". Bare root plants have no soil around their roots. Bare root trees, shrubs, and perennials must be planted as soon as possible before growth begins. Find care and planting instructions here: https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/bare-root.cfm
Item only available in bundles
Available through the Spring Tree Sale. Pick up from Kardell Hall, Eaton Co. Fairgrounds
Friday, April 11, 2025 9AM to 6PM
Saturday, April 12, 2025 9AM to 11AM
Photo Credit:
Bark: Katja Schulz - Red Mulberry - https://www.flickr.com/photos/treegrow/30361651543
Leaves: Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Leaf: Ryan P. O’Connor - https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/abstracts/botany/Morus_rubra.pdf
Berry: https://katv.com/news/local/gallery/arkansas-squirrel-hunting-season-opens-dove-rabbit-duck-shotgun-muzzle-loader-acorn-eater-red-mulberry-tree-flat-leaves-leaf-arkansas-game-and-fish-commission?photo=1
Size: 18-24”
Age: 1-0
Soil Moisture: Moist
Back by Popular Demand!
Not to be confused with the somewhat-invasive Asian/White Mulberry, the Red Mulberry is native to Michigan, but has all but disappeared. It is listed as threatened/protected in Michigan. There are currently no known naturally occurring Red Mulberries in Eaton County and they have only been spotted in 16 Michigan counties. Red Mulberry trees have delicious edible fruit (for humans and wildlife), red bark, and are an understory tree that grows in shady, moist areas.
***This tree must be planted in full shade. Please note this statement provided by our friends at Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) -
“Red mulberry is a State Threatened species, but only naturally occurring populations are considered protected. It is important to avoid confusing planted populations with natural ones. Please plant these in clearly artificial settings, such as backyards, and avoid planting them in natural settings such as forests. To prevent introducing non-local genes to our natural populations, please also avoid planting them near naturally occurring populations of red mulberry.”
Red mulberry (Morusrubra) is a medium-sized tree with a short trunk and a broad, rounded crown. Leaves are alternate, simple, 4–8 inches long, usually lacking lobes but some leaves with 1–3 lobes; teeth dense; tip pointed. Three main veins arise from the base. Undersurface hairy, paler than above. Bleeds milky sap. Leaf stalk hairy. Turn yellowish or lime green in the fall. Bark is thin, dark brown to gray with an orange tint, grooves shallow, ridges narrow, tight, sometimes with loose scales. Twigs are reddish-brown to light greenish-brown, smooth, slender, bleeding milky sap.
Flowers April–May; male and female flowers on the same tree or on different trees. Male catkins 2–3 inches long; female catkins ⅜ inch long. Fruits June–August, blackberry-like; red at first, ripening to purplish-black, cylindrical; ¾–1¼ inches long.
Occurs in moist woods in lowland areas or on moist upland slopes. Height: up to 60ft. Do not plant under power lines.
*A mature height of less than 15 feet is recommended for trees planted near power lines. Tall growing trees should be planted a minimum of 20 feet away from power lines, and 50 feet away to avoid future pruning.
*This plant will be packaged as "bare root". Bare root plants have no soil around their roots. Bare root trees, shrubs, and perennials must be planted as soon as possible before growth begins. Find care and planting instructions here: https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/bare-root.cfm
Item only available in bundles
Available through the Spring Tree Sale. Pick up from Kardell Hall, Eaton Co. Fairgrounds
Friday, April 11, 2025 9AM to 6PM
Saturday, April 12, 2025 9AM to 11AM
Photo Credit:
Bark: Katja Schulz - Red Mulberry - https://www.flickr.com/photos/treegrow/30361651543
Leaves: Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Leaf: Ryan P. O’Connor - https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/abstracts/botany/Morus_rubra.pdf
Berry: https://katv.com/news/local/gallery/arkansas-squirrel-hunting-season-opens-dove-rabbit-duck-shotgun-muzzle-loader-acorn-eater-red-mulberry-tree-flat-leaves-leaf-arkansas-game-and-fish-commission?photo=1
Size: 18-24”
Age: 1-0
Soil Moisture: Moist
Back by Popular Demand!
Not to be confused with the somewhat-invasive Asian/White Mulberry, the Red Mulberry is native to Michigan, but has all but disappeared. It is listed as threatened/protected in Michigan. There are currently no known naturally occurring Red Mulberries in Eaton County and they have only been spotted in 16 Michigan counties. Red Mulberry trees have delicious edible fruit (for humans and wildlife), red bark, and are an understory tree that grows in shady, moist areas.
***This tree must be planted in full shade. Please note this statement provided by our friends at Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) -
“Red mulberry is a State Threatened species, but only naturally occurring populations are considered protected. It is important to avoid confusing planted populations with natural ones. Please plant these in clearly artificial settings, such as backyards, and avoid planting them in natural settings such as forests. To prevent introducing non-local genes to our natural populations, please also avoid planting them near naturally occurring populations of red mulberry.”
Red mulberry (Morusrubra) is a medium-sized tree with a short trunk and a broad, rounded crown. Leaves are alternate, simple, 4–8 inches long, usually lacking lobes but some leaves with 1–3 lobes; teeth dense; tip pointed. Three main veins arise from the base. Undersurface hairy, paler than above. Bleeds milky sap. Leaf stalk hairy. Turn yellowish or lime green in the fall. Bark is thin, dark brown to gray with an orange tint, grooves shallow, ridges narrow, tight, sometimes with loose scales. Twigs are reddish-brown to light greenish-brown, smooth, slender, bleeding milky sap.
Flowers April–May; male and female flowers on the same tree or on different trees. Male catkins 2–3 inches long; female catkins ⅜ inch long. Fruits June–August, blackberry-like; red at first, ripening to purplish-black, cylindrical; ¾–1¼ inches long.
Occurs in moist woods in lowland areas or on moist upland slopes. Height: up to 60ft. Do not plant under power lines.
*A mature height of less than 15 feet is recommended for trees planted near power lines. Tall growing trees should be planted a minimum of 20 feet away from power lines, and 50 feet away to avoid future pruning.
*This plant will be packaged as "bare root". Bare root plants have no soil around their roots. Bare root trees, shrubs, and perennials must be planted as soon as possible before growth begins. Find care and planting instructions here: https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/bare-root.cfm
Item only available in bundles
Available through the Spring Tree Sale. Pick up from Kardell Hall, Eaton Co. Fairgrounds
Friday, April 11, 2025 9AM to 6PM
Saturday, April 12, 2025 9AM to 11AM
Photo Credit:
Bark: Katja Schulz - Red Mulberry - https://www.flickr.com/photos/treegrow/30361651543
Leaves: Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Leaf: Ryan P. O’Connor - https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/abstracts/botany/Morus_rubra.pdf
Berry: https://katv.com/news/local/gallery/arkansas-squirrel-hunting-season-opens-dove-rabbit-duck-shotgun-muzzle-loader-acorn-eater-red-mulberry-tree-flat-leaves-leaf-arkansas-game-and-fish-commission?photo=1