Plant Details

Morus alba

White mulberry

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Common names

56 names · 40 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Common Mulberry[2]
  • Tartarian Mulberry[2]
  • White mulberry[1][2]
Other languages (39)
Dutch
  • Witte moerbei[2]
French
  • Mûrier blanc[2]
Afrikaans
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Witmoerbei[2]
Arabic
  • توت أبيض[2]
Bemba
Bulgarian
  • Бяла черница[2]
Catalan
  • Morera blanca[2]
Cewa
Chewa
Chinese (Simplified)
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • morušovník bílý[2]
Danish
  • Hvid morbær[2]
Estonian
  • valge mooruspuu[2]
Finnish
  • valkomulperi[2]
German
  • Weiße Maulbeere[2]
  • Weißer Maulbeerbaum[1]
Greek
  • Λευκή μουριά[2]
Hebrew
  • תות לבן[2]
Hungarian
  • fehér eperfa[2]
Indonesian
Italian
  • Gelso bianco[2]
Japanese
Kamba
Korean
Kurdish
  • تووی سپی[2]
Lithuanian
  • Baltasis šilkmedis[2]
Polish
  • Morwa biała[2]
Portuguese
  • Amoreira-branca[2]
Romanian
Russian
  • Шелковица белая[2]
Slovak
  • moruša biela[2]
Sotho Northern
Spanish
  • Morera[1]
  • Morera asiática[2]
Swedish
  • vitt mullbär[2]
Teso
Thai
  • หม่อนขาว[2]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Шовковиця біла[2]
Xhosa
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Morus alba L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Weißer Maulbeerbaum (DE); White Mulberry (EN); Morera (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 167891; taxon 44FPX.
[2] Morus alba — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Morera asiática — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Murbei — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 桑 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Amoreira-branca — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • マグワ — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Mûrier blanc — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • תות לבן — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • white mulberry — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • morušovník bílý — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Witte moerbei — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 뽕나무 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Weiße Maulbeere — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Шовковиця біла — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Бяла черница — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • valkomulperi — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Morwa biała — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Шелковица белая — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • توت أبيض — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Morera blanca — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • カラグワ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • valge mooruspuu — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Gelso bianco — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • vitt mullbär — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Λευκή μουριά — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • dut — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Witmoerbei — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Hvid morbær — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Gewonemoerbei — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Common Mulberry — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Baltasis šilkmedis — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 桑 — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 白桑 — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 白桑 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Dud alb — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • fehér eperfa — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • หม่อนขาว — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 桑树 — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 野桑 — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • eidibala — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • 真桑 — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • moruša biela — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • moerbei — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • wit moerbei — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Tartarian Mulberry — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • marubeny — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Iqunube — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • amaqunube — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Dinurupeye — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Ndae — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Mabulosi — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • norpeila — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • Mabulosi — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • urupeila — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.
  • تووی سپی — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 56090; Morus alba.

General information

Scientific name: Morus alba
Accepted name (Kew): Morus alba L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4] [5]
Botanical family: Moraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Morus (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: White mulberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 9.14–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 9.14–15.24 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Fast

A typical growth category; growth varies with age, climate and growing conditions.

Sources [1] [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [1]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [1]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Inner bark, Leaves, Manna
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Biomass production, Dye, Fibre, Wood, Carbon farming

Description

Morus alba is a deciduous tree. Its ripe fruits are eaten fresh or used in preserves, and dried fruits can be used like raisins. Unripe fruit and milky sap carry toxicity warnings.

Sources [1]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Crown

Crown shape: round
Crown density: dense crown

Typical crown form. Age, pruning and growing conditions can change its shape and density.

Sources [3] [1]

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. North Carolina State University Extension Morus alba (White Mulberry)
    Supports: DescriptionGrowth rateCrownHeightSpreadFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Crown: Description and Habit/Form
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. Royal Horticultural Society Morus alba | white mulberry
    Supports: Soil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Soil moisture: Growing conditions: Moisture; Cultivation

    Source checked on .

  3. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station Morus alba — Fire Effects Information System
    Supports: Growth rateCrown
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: General Botanical Characteristics; growth discussion
    • Crown: General Botanical Characteristics; growth discussion

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 610523; name ID 2501384; Morus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 610514; name ID 2501381; Morus alba L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  5. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Morus alba

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 695296, ID 44FPX: Morus alba L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .