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| Leaf Photo by: Steven J. Baskauf |
Bark Photo by: Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service |
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| Fruit Photo by: Paul Wray |
Tree Photo by: The Grove |
Mulberry leaves are the preferred food for silkworm caterpillars, which produce silk cocoons.
Red mulberry is rare in Ontario, with very small populations scattered near the western edges of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and in the Niagara Region in forested valleys and floodplains.
Red mulberry has dark green, toothed leaves that are rough to the touch. The leaf shape can vary from oval to 2-lobed or 3-lobed on a single branch. The fruits are small, fleshy, resembling an elongated blackberry. They are red or dark purple when ripe in midsummer. The young bark is reddish-brown, maturing to flaky plates.
Red mulberry is under threat from habitat loss and hybridization with the imported white mulberry from Asia. Snails and slugs also damage young seedlings.
Size: Up to 9 m tall
Moisture: Prefers moist soils
Shade: Can grow in full sun or full shade
Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soils
Planting Tip: If you are interested in planting red mulberry as part of the Recovery Strategy, contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk biologist. More tips...
