| white mulberry | USDA PLANTS Symbol: MOAL U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Hardwood Trees Shrub or Subshrub |
| Morus alba L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Urticales: Moraceae |
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| Synonym(s): mulberry | |
| Native Range: China (REHD); Temp. Asia-China (GRIN); | |
White mulberry is a small, 30-50 ft. (9.1-15.2 m) tall, deciduous tree that invades disturbed areas throughout the United States. The alternate leaves are polymorphic (variably shaped), 2-8 in. (5.1-20.3 cm) long and shiny with blunt teeth and heart-shaped bases. Young bark, the bark along the roots, and the inner bark along the trunk are often bright orange in color. Older bark is gray with narrow, irregular fissures. Flowering occurs in April. Plants are normally dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). Male flowers are small, green and occur in 1-2 in. (2.5-5.1 cm) long catkins. Female flowers are inconspicuous and crowded in short spikes. White mulberry is very similar to the native red mulberry (Morus rubra L.), but may be distinguished by the leaves. White mulberry leaves have glossy surfaces whereas the leaves of red mulberry do not. White mulberry is found throughout the United States, where it invades old fields, urban lots, roadsides, forest edges, and other disturbed areas. It poses an ecological threat by displacing native species, possibly hybridizing with and transmitting a root disease to the native red mulberry. White mulberry is native to Asia and was introduced in colonial times as a food source for silkworms. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Infestation; Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; John Cardina, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seedling(s); Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Theodore Webster, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Bark; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seedling(s); Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
| U.S. National Parks where reported invasive: |
| Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia) |
