- Scientific name: Morus rubra
- Species of Greatest Conservation Need (MA State Wildlife Action Plan)
- Endangered (MA Endangered Species Act)
Description
Red mulberry is a medium-sized, alternately leaved tree of rich woods. It bears red to dark purple, blackberry-like fruits that ripen in early summer.
Red mulberry leaves are coarsely toothed, oval to heart-shaped, with a pronounced acuminate tip. They are sometimes mitten-shaped and on young shoots often have several lobes. Leaves may be rough or smooth above but are always downy on the underside. The flowers are borne in cylindrical catkins, and the species is generally dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. The fruits, also cylindrical, are 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) long, with the remains of the styles protruding.
White mulberry (Morus alba), introduced from Asia, is quite similar. Despite its common name, the fruits are generally red to dark purple as in red mulberry, though occasional individuals bear white or pink. The main difference is that the leaves are virtually hairless beneath (there may some pubescence on the veins and in the vein axils). The leaf tips are not as pronounced as in red mulberry. If leaf buds are present, red mulberry has a dark band along the margin of each scale, whereas white mulberry bud scales have pale brown bands or lack bands along the margins. The two species can hybridize, producing offspring with intermediate characteristics.
American basswood (Tilia americana) grows in the same habitats as red mulberry and vegetative individuals are superficially similar. They are easily distinguished by the buds, if present, because basswood buds are red with just two scales, unlike the several overlapping scales that make mulberry buds look like miniature pinecones. Additionally, basswoods lack the milky sap characteristic of the mulberry family.
Life cycle and behavior
Population status
Red mulberry is listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act as endangered. All listed species are protected from killing, collecting, possessing, or sale and from activities that would destroy habitat and thus directly or indirectly cause mortality or disrupt critical behaviors. The Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program has 13 records from 4 counties: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire. Six of these records have been observed within the last 25 years.
Distribution in Massachusetts. 1999-2024. Based on records in the Natural Heritage Database.
Distribution and abundance
Red mulberry is at its northeastern range limit in Massachusetts and southern Vermont. Its range extends west to eastern Nebraska and south to Florida and Texas.
Habitat
All known occurrences of rred mulberry in Massachusetts are on steep, east-facing ledges or rocky slopes. Elsewhere in its range, this species can be found on floodplains and in other rich woodlands.
Healthy habitats are vital for supporting native wildlife and plants. Explore habitats and learn about conservation and restoration in Massachusetts.
Threats
All Massachusetts occurrences of red mulberry consist of one or a few trees, so loss of individuals to natural occurrences like rockslides, disease, or shading by taller trees can seriously threaten a population. When growing in proximity to white mulberry, the rare species may be overwhelmed with pollen from the more abundant exotic species, thereby becoming lost to hybridization over successive generations.
Conservation
At sites where shading from neighboring trees is a threat, selective cutting of competitors may be appropriate. If possible, the vicinity of red mulberry populations should be kept free of white mulberry. All active management of rare plant populations (including invasive species removal) is subject to review under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act and should be planned in close consultation with the MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.
Contact
| Date published: | May 8, 2025 |
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