Collier red mulberry is a native tree species and has both edible and ornamental features. It is a hybrid between red mulberry and white mulberry. It can live up to 125 years but the weedy invasive character is not appealing. It is more cold hardy than black mulberry. Female trees are often considered undesirable in urban areas because the fruit is messy and stains pavements, automobiles and areas around the home. Stains may also be unwittingly brought indoors on the bottom of shoes. Do not plant this tree in the home landscape if you object to the mess typically caused by the fruit. Non-fruiting cultivars of the similar M. alba may be a better choice. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Borers may be a problem particularly in the South. Whiteflies mass on some trees. Bacterial blight may kill foliage/branches. Coral spot cankers may cause twig dieback. Bacterial leaf scorch, powdery mildew, root rot, and witches broom may also occur. Watch for scale, mites, and mealybugs. Weedy self-seeding and messy fruit are concerns. More information on Morus rubra .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheMorus alba x rubra 'Silk Hope'Morus rubra 'Townsend'Morus rubra 'Travis'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
dark green leaves (to 5” long) with heart-shaped bases. The leaves can be quite variable, however, ranging from unlobed to deeply lobed and from rough-textured to glabrous on the upper surfaces. The upper surface is rough and under surface is full of soft hair.
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Small catkin-like spikes that appear in early spring with male and female flowers usually appearing on separate trees (dioecious).
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
Produces numerous reddish-black fruit that looks like a blackberry but slender with a size of 1 1/4''
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Milky sap
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Distribution
It is native to rich woods, bottomlands and wood margins from Massachusetts, southern Ontario and Minnesota south to Florida and Texas.
Wildlife value
This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer. It is a possible host plant for the Red Admiral butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by many birds, especially gray catbirds and northern mockingbirds, foxes, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels.
Attracts
Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Edibility
Fruits are also used for jellies, jams, and wines.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Garden tags
#deciduous #deer resistant #messy #edible garden #bird friendly #butterfly friendly #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #weedy #HS304