White Mulberry in a fairly common small tree of waste places, introduced from Eurasia.

The leaves are similar in shape to the native Red Mulberry (M. rubra) and the introduced Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), but are glossy and less rough above. Like those two, the shape is extremely variable. Confusing the situation, Red Mulberry and White Mulberry often hybridize, resulting in trees with intermediate characteristics.

Durham, NC 5/28/03.

The blackberry-like aggregate fruits turn from green to white to red to black as they ripen.

Durham, NC 5/28/03.

Pistillate (female) flowers.

Durham, NC 4/4/07.

Detail of pistillate flowers.

Durham, NC 4/4/07.

The staminate (male) flowers are more compact than those of Red or Paper Mulberry.

White Mulberry is normally dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, but this tree also had some female flowers.

Bark of a young tree.

Durham, NC 4/4/07.