Red mulberry (Morus rubra)

Form

Small tree reaching heights of 18' to 30', sometimes even 50', with a diameter of up to 18"; trunk often divides near the ground in many stout, spreading branches forming a compact, broad, round-topped crown.

Bark

Dark reddish-brown, deeply fissured with scaly ridges.

Leaf

Simple, alternate on stem, length 3" to 7"; thin and membranous in texture with margins that are singly or occasionally doubly toothed; abruptly-pointed; variable in form, especially on young shoots, having from three to five lobes or a single lobe on one side; dark bluish-green; smooth or rough above, pale and softly hairy beneath; produces a milky juice when broken; turns yellow in autumn.

Fruit (seed)

Berrylike, about an inch long; red when fully grown, becoming dark purple to black when ripe; sweet and juicy and very attractive to birds.

Range

Scattered and rare, found in southeastern Minnesota in the Mississippi and Minnesota river valleys; moderately shade-tolerant, moderately fast-growing.