Whether you have a small suburban backyard or a large farm, we strongly recommend that you plant at least one mulberry tree. Mulberries are best known for their sweet-tart fruit, which is one of our favorites both fresh and dried.
They are wonderful in other ways, too. In fact, the leaves are excellent animal fodder, with a protein content at about 20% of dry matter (FAO 1998). That’s on par with alfalfa! Additionally, mulberry wood is fairly durable and rot-resistant. It’s often used to make lathe-turned bowls that have a beautiful yellow hue. Mulberry trees grow fast and aren’t too picky about the soil that they inhabit. One species of mulberry tree is native to North America, and a few others have naturalized here. There are lots of reasons to love them!
These fast-growing trees provide food, shelter, and shade, and they can be integrated into a wide range of landscapes. Whether you want to support wildlife, feed livestock, enjoy homegrown berries, or cultivate resilient fruit trees, mulberries offer something valuable.
Mulberry Tree Botanical Classification
Family: Moraceae
Other fruit-bearing trees in this family are figs (Ficus carica spp.), breadfruit and jackfruit (Artocarpus spp.) and African breadfruit (Treculia spp.)
Botanical name: Morus rubra,
M. alba, M. nigra
There are several other species, too (68 in total), but these three are the most common. It’s likely that M. rubra, which is native to North America, and M. alba, which was introduced to feed silkworms, have naturally hybridized here. Both M. rubra and M. alba can be found growing wild and feral in the Eastern United States. Please note, M. alba is considered an invasive species (it’s originally from China). Since so many M. alba trees have become feral, it’s unclear whether choosing not to plant a cultivar of that species will have a significant impact on its spread as an invasive.
Type of fruit: Multiple or collective fruit, “infructescence”
What we think of as a mulberry “berry” is actually an infructescence — that is, a collection of many tiny fruits joined together. When the mulberry tree flowers, each “flower” is actually an inflorescence, or collection of many tiny flowers. Get out your loupe hand lens, and check it out!
Mulberry trees are typically medium to large deciduous trees with broad, heart-shaped leaves. Some varieties have lobed leaves that may resemble those of a fig or even a maple tree. Despite the children’s rhyme about a “mulberry bush,” mulberries are, in fact, trees. The confusion likely stems from small cultivars or heavy pruning that keeps the tree small and bushy.
Mulberry Nutrition
Mulberries are nutritional powerhouses. They are rich in fiber (including pectin), vitamin C, iron, and vitamin K. For a fruit, mulberries are pretty high in protein, with a cup of them containing about 2 grams of protein. They are also a significant source of calcium, magnesium, and several other trace minerals.
Along with being full of nutrition, mulberries contain some important health-promoting qualities. They are full of antioxidants (even the white-fruited varieties), which help protect our bodies from oxidative stress that can lead to cancer and other diseases. In fact, an isolated compound found in mulberry juice was shown in a 2017 research study to help kill breast cancer cells. According to another study, one of the pigments in mulberries helps to control “bad” (LDL) cholesterol in the body.
If you’re wondering whether mulberries are edible—they absolutely are! All mulberry species produce edible fruit, although the flavor and texture may vary. White mulberries, despite their paler color, are perfectly safe to eat and tend to be the sweetest. Some people even dry and snack on them like raisins.
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Mulberry Tree Cultivation Tips
As far as fruit trees go, mulberries are pretty forgiving and adaptable. They thrive in full sun, with at least 15 feet of space between individual trees. They can survive in many different kinds of soil, but prefer loose, well-drained soil. Many mulberry tree varieties are somewhat drought- and frost-tolerant. White and red mulberries (M. alba and M. rubra) are much hardier and less finicky than black mulberries (M. nigra). It is said that the fruit of black mulberries are the most delicious. Because they don’t thrive in our climate, we can’t say for sure.
It’s worth noting that “white” mulberry trees don’t necessarily bear white fruits, “red” mulberry trees don’t necessarily bear red fruits, and “black” mulberry trees don’t necessarily bear black fruits. All species can bear fruits that range in color from white to dark purple-black. The white fruits are sweetest, but don’t have much tartness to enrich the flavor. The best tasting mulberries that we’ve tried have been red to purple-black.
Mulberry trees can grow quite large—red mulberries may reach up to 70 feet tall, while white mulberries typically stay under 40 feet. They grow quickly, making them excellent choices for anyone who wants fruit and shade fast. As long as they get full sun and enough space, they’re relatively low-maintenance. If you’re wondering how to grow mulberry successfully, it starts with choosing the right variety for your climate and giving it plenty of light.
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Mulberry Habitat and Planting
Mulberry trees can be found growing wild and feral. Often trees growing in the understory of a forest don’t much fruit because they don’t get much sun. Sometimes thinning the forest around a wild or feral mulberry tree can open up the canopy, bringing more sun to a tree and resulting in a crop of sweet fruit. Wild trees bearing poor-quality fruit can be grafted with tastier varieties to take advantage of the established root system.
Pruning is not necessary with mulberry trees, except to clean up dead limbs or control the size and spread of the tree. Some red mulberries can grow to be 70 feet tall! Flowers bloom from first-year growth and from the axils of older wood. Mulberry trees drop their fruit over a period of several weeks. The darker-fruited varieties in particular can make quite a mess. Try not to plant a mulberry tree close to a road or sidewalk or over a place where you park a car to avoid purple stains where they’re unwanted.
If you want to propagate a mulberry tree, consider rooting hardwood cuttings during dormancy or grafting preferred varieties onto wild rootstock. While mulberries can grow from seed, this method doesn’t guarantee good fruit. Mulberry bushes or small trees can also be espaliered or pruned to maintain a compact size, ideal for urban or suburban gardens.
Harvesting Mulberries
Harvest season: Late May or early June
Method of harvest: Ripe mulberries drop from the tree. This can be encouraged by shaking a mulberry tree. To prevent your bounty from being contaminated with rotten fruits, twigs, rocks, and other flotsam, we recommend laying a tarp down beneath the tree, then shaking it. Individual mulberries can, of course, be plucked from low-hanging branches for a snack. The tarp-shake method is best for bringing in a large quantity of fruit for processing.
If you’re wondering when do mulberries ripen, the answer is late spring to early summer, though this can vary based on variety and climate. In most places, mulberries are in season for only a few weeks, so be ready to harvest quickly!
Processing and Preserving Mulberries
Our favorite way to preserve mulberries is also one of the easiest: drying. Dried mulberries are a delicious snack, and they keep very well in sealed containers. We have found that using an electric dehydrator works the best, as mulberries are very juicy. Solar dehydrators in this humid climate can work, if an auxiliary fan is attached to them to increase their drying power. If mulberries aren’t completely dry when stored, they will mold.
Mulberries make a good wine and don’t require as much additional honey or sugar as other fruit wines, because the fruit is so sweet. Unfortunately the mulberry flavor is so subtle that it doesn’t come across very strongly in a wine. It can be fun to experiment with mulberry wines that also contain other, stronger-flavored fruits like elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and wild grapes.
Freezing mulberries is another great way to preserve them. When defrosted, the frozen berries are more like a paste and are best used in smoothies, sauces and pie fillings. They cannot be easily eaten out of hand after freezing.
Because of their high pectin content, mulberries lend themselves to making jams, jellies, and other preserves. The pectin helps the preserves solidify, similar to how gelatin becomes more solid at room temperature after it’s been cooked. If you have an abundance of fresh mulberries and enjoy fruity spreads, canning up a batch of mulberry jam is a great way to preserve the harvest.
Mulberry Trees and “Silk Mania”
The Ashley Bailey Silk Mills, Fayatteville, NC circa 1910
Perhaps the most famous use for mulberry trees is in the feeding of silkworms. These silky-cocoon spinning caterpillars almost exclusively eat mulberry leaves, preferring M. alba. In the late 1800s and early 1900s here in North Carolina (and other Eastern states), “silk mania” took hold. Entrepreneurs and farmers learned of the high per-pound price that silk was fetching and the fact that M. alba could be cultivated here; they went crazy planting mulberry trees and raising silkworms. Unfortunately, their lack of preparation, knowledge and skill in the processing of cocoons into silk fiber, among other factors, led to a speedy demise of the North Carolina silk industry. Fortunately for us, the legacy of “silk mania” is an abundance of feral M. alba mulberry trees and the likely hybridization between M. alba and our native M. rubra.
Interestingly, some cities and states once considered banning or heavily regulating mulberry trees due to pollen allergies and the invasiveness of M. alba, leading to some confusion now about why mulberry trees were once almost illegal. In most cases, these restrictions have softened or been repealed.
Where to buy mulberry trees?
For a list of nursery’s that sell mulberry trees visit GrowingMulberry.org (there’s lots of other good info there, too)
If you’re local, our friend and neighbor Cailen Campbell maintains a small nursery with a substantial collection of common, rare, and unusual mulberry varieties. You can contact him at cailencampbell@hotmail.com
As a bonus, mulberry wood can be valuable to woodworkers and artisans due to its golden color and rot resistance. While it doesn’t sell commercially for large sums, its worth lies in its durability and beauty. And mulberry trees, with proper care, can live for decades—some up to 100 years or more!
Are Mulberries Poisonous?
Mulberries are not poisonous—in fact, they’re quite the opposite. They are nutritious, safe, and widely enjoyed. That said, unripe mulberries can sometimes cause mild digestive discomfort if eaten in large quantities. Also, avoid confusing them with lookalike berries like pokeweed, which are toxic. As long as you’re sure it’s a mulberry and it’s ripe, you’re in good hands.
It’s also worth noting that the leaves and stems of mulberry trees are not typically consumed by humans, although they are eaten by livestock and silkworms. If you’re harvesting wild mulberries, always identify the tree by its leaf shape and fruit structure to ensure safety. Children, in particular, should be taught to avoid unripe fruit and unknown plants.
How to Prune a Mulberry Tree
Mulberries are low-maintenance, but proper pruning can enhance fruit production and manage tree size. Prune in winter during dormancy to remove dead or crossing branches and to shape the canopy. If you want to keep your mulberry smaller and more bush-like, annual light pruning can help. For a full pruning guide, check out our post on how to prune a fruit tree.
When pruning older trees, focus on thinning the center to allow more sunlight and air to penetrate, which improves both fruit quality and disease resistance. Avoid heavy summer pruning, as it may reduce next year’s yield. Always use clean, sharp tools and make angled cuts just above a bud or branch collar for best results.
Mulberry Tree Lifespan and Growth Rate
Mulberry trees are known for their fast growth—some varieties can shoot up several feet in a single season. Red mulberries can reach 70 feet tall, while white mulberries tend to stay under 40 feet. With the right care, mulberry trees can live 50 to 100 years or more, making them a long-term investment in your homestead or garden.
Because of their rapid growth, mulberries can provide shade and habitat faster than many other fruit trees. Their vigorous root systems also help stabilize soil on slopes or erosion-prone areas. If you’re looking for a resilient tree with multi-generational value, a mulberry is a worthy contender.
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Mulberry Tree Identification Guide
Mulberry trees have distinctive, often glossy leaves that can vary even on the same tree—some are unlobed and heart-shaped, while others have deep lobes. The bark is light brown to gray and develops ridges as the tree matures. Their berries, which resemble elongated blackberries, ripen in late spring or early summer. You’ll often spot them in old homesteads, fence lines, and wood edges.
During flowering season, look for tiny greenish catkins that later develop into the berry-like infructescences. Leaves are alternately arranged and rough to the touch on the upper surface. Learning to recognize the tree even when it’s not fruiting can help you scout good foraging spots or locate suitable grafting stock in the wild.
Where Do Mulberries and Mulberry Bushes Grow?
Mulberries grow in a variety of temperate climates and are especially common in the Eastern United States. Morus alba adapts well to disturbed soils, while Morus rubra prefers forest edges and moist, rich soil. Despite the phrase “mulberry bush,” these plants are trees and thrive in full sun locations with room to spread. You’ll find wild mulberries from Texas to New England and across parts of the Midwest.
Mulberries can also be grown in parts of the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, and lower Midwest, though local conditions will affect which species thrive. Red mulberries are more cold-hardy, while white mulberries tolerate a wider range of soils and temperatures. With careful cultivar selection, you can successfully grow mulberries across USDA zones 4 through 9.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mulberry Trees
Mulberry trees are incredibly versatile plants for homesteads, permaculture gardens, and backyard landscapes. They produce abundant fruit that’s tasty fresh and also easy to preserve as jam, syrup, wine, or dried “mulberry raisins.” Many people plant mulberries as a reliable seasonal food source because mature trees can yield heavily with relatively little input.
Beyond the berries, mulberry leaves can be used as high-value animal fodder (fresh or dried) for many backyard systems, and the trees offer fast-growing shade and excellent wildlife habitat. The wood is also valued for certain projects because it can be strong and durable when properly seasoned. Historically, mulberry leaves were famously used to feed silkworms, and today the tree still plays a role in resilient, multi-purpose plantings.
Ripe mulberries are generally safe to eat and are enjoyed by people around the world. The biggest issue is usually ripeness: eating a large amount of unripe fruit can cause stomach upset for some people, and the flavor tends to be less pleasant and more “green.” For most folks, waiting until the berries are fully soft and richly colored (or easily detaching) helps avoid digestive discomfort.
Mulberries are also commonly eaten by many animals—birds, chickens, and other livestock often relish both fallen fruit and leafy branches. Still, individual sensitivities can vary, especially for pets with curious stomachs, so moderation is wise when offering any new food. And if you’re foraging, correct identification matters: don’t rely on “berry-shaped” alone—confirm leaf shape, growth habit, and fruit clusters to avoid dangerous lookalikes.
Mulberry trees can grow quickly, especially during their first several years, and their mature size depends on the species, variety, and how they’re managed. Some mulberries can reach large shade-tree proportions with broad canopies, while others stay more modest—especially when pruned. Because they respond well to cutting back, many growers treat them as “managed trees,” keeping them smaller for easier harvest and to reduce mess from dropped fruit.
In good conditions, mulberries can put on a few feet of growth per year when young. Over time, they can become long-lived, productive trees that continue to fruit for decades. If you have limited space, pruning and training (or selecting a smaller variety) can make mulberries work beautifully in a backyard setting.
Mulberries tend to thrive in full sun, where they fruit most heavily, but they’re also known for being adaptable and tough. They prefer well-drained soil, yet many will tolerate a wide range of soil textures and fertility levels once established. In many temperate climates, they’re considered hardy and forgiving—often handling drought better than many fruit trees after their roots are established.
They can also tolerate partial shade, though that usually reduces fruit production. Good airflow and thoughtful placement help keep leaves and fruit healthier, especially in humid regions. If you’re planting one, consider where falling fruit will land—mulberries are generous producers, and placing the tree where dropped berries won’t be a problem can make maintenance much easier.
In a few municipalities, mulberry planting is restricted due to pollen concerns—particularly in arid urban areas where airborne pollen can be a significant allergy trigger. These restrictions are often aimed at reducing “high-pollen” trees in certain neighborhoods or limiting nuisance issues tied to large numbers of planted male trees. In many cases, rules vary by city rather than by state, and they can change over time.
It’s also worth noting that mulberries can be messy when planted in high-traffic areas, since ripe fruit can stain sidewalks, patios, and cars. Some communities discourage them for purely practical reasons, even where they’re not formally banned. If you’re unsure, check your local ordinances or HOA rules—especially before planting near sidewalks, public rights-of-way, or shared spaces.
Mulberries can be white, pink, red, purple, or nearly black depending on species and cultivar—and color isn’t always a perfect clue to ripeness. Some “white” mulberries ripen to pale cream, while others ripen to pink or dark purple, and some red mulberries can deepen dramatically as they mature. The best ripeness signs are softness, easy release from the stem, and a sweet, fully developed flavor.
In many parts of the U.S., mulberries ripen from late spring into early summer, often peaking in late May through June, though timing can shift earlier or later depending on region and weather. The harvest window is usually a few weeks, and berries often fall when ripe, making tarps or sheets a simple way to gather them. If you have multiple trees or varieties, you may be able to stretch the season by a week or two.
Yes—white mulberries are edible and are often considered among the sweetest mulberries, especially when fully ripe. Their flavor is usually mild, honey-like, and less tart than many darker mulberries, which makes them easy to snack on fresh. They also dry well, concentrating their sweetness into a chewy, raisin-like treat.
As with any mulberry, ripeness matters for both flavor and comfort. Fully ripe berries tend to be softer and sweeter, while underripe berries can taste bland and may be harder on sensitive stomachs if eaten in quantity. If you’re harvesting from a tree that drops fruit, collecting the ripe fallen berries (from a clean surface or tarp) is often the simplest way to get them at peak sweetness.
Mulberries can be propagated in several ways, including softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, layering, and grafting. Cuttings are popular because many mulberries root relatively readily, allowing you to clone a tree with fruit qualities you already like. Grafting can also be useful when you want a particular variety on a hardy rootstock or you want to top-work an existing tree.
Growing from seed is possible, but seedlings don’t always produce fruit true to the parent, and they can take longer to reach fruiting age. For most home growers, cuttings or grafted nursery trees offer the best combination of reliability and speed. If you’re taking cuttings, timing, moisture control, and patience matter—consistent humidity and well-draining media can make a big difference in success.
How soon a mulberry fruits depends largely on how it was started. A mulberry grown from a cutting or purchased as a grafted nursery tree can often begin producing within a few years, especially if it’s planted in full sun and given consistent water while establishing. Some trees produce a light crop first and then ramp up significantly as the canopy expands.
Mulberries grown from seed typically take longer—often several years before they flower and fruit, and the quality can vary from tree to tree. Climate, pruning style, and overall tree health also affect timing: heavy pruning can delay fruiting, while steady growth and good light tend to speed it up. If your goal is quicker, predictable harvests, starting with a known fruiting variety (cutting-grown or grafted) is usually the most reliable route.
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