Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

red mulberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Morus rubra

Family:

Moraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

35-50 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms mid- to late spring. Fruits ripen late summer-early fall.

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Plant tree in areas where fallen fruit will not be an issue.

Considerations:

Fallen fruits are messy.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Soil pH:

acid to alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Fruits are very popular with birds and mammals and some reptiles (for example, Eastern box turtle )

Native Habitats:

Upper floodplains, hammocks, mesic forests..

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Edible fruits.

General Comments:

Wind pollinated.  Dioecious.  According to Huegel (2010), the flowers attract insects.