Plant Details

Morus rubra

Red mulberry

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Morus rubra.

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Common names

22 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Rode moerbei[2]
French
  • Mûrier rouge[2]
Alabama
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • morušovník červený[2]
Danish
  • Rød Morbær[2]
Finnish
  • punamulperi[2]
German
  • Rote Maulbeere[2]
Greek
  • Κόκκινη μουριά[2]
Japanese
  • アカミグワ[2]
Kiowa
Mvskoke
Romanian
Russian
  • Шелковица красная[2]
Slovak
  • moruša červená[2]
Spanish
  • morera roja[2]
Swedish
  • rött mullbär[2]
Turkish
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 rubra L. ↗

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

Source records
  • Red mulberry (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 167894; taxon 73R6J.
[2] Morus rubra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • morera roja — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • mûrier rouge — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • red mulberry — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • rode moerbei — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • Rote Maulbeere — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • Шелковица красная — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • morušovník červený — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • アカミグワ — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • rött mullbär — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • Bihi — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • Κόκκινη μουριά — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • 红桑 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • 紅桑 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • Rød Morbær — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • idákxah — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • dud roșu — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • ᎫᏩ — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • punamulperi — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • moruša červená — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • American Mulberry — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • kē — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.
  • Mor Dut — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 54801; Morus rubra.

General information

Scientific name: Morus rubra
Accepted name (Kew): Morus rubra 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: Red mulberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 7.62–18.29 m

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

Sources [2]
Spread: 10.67–12.19 m

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

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Dense, Erect, Irregular, Open, Rounded, Spreading

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

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

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

Sources [2]
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, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Fibre, Wood

Description

Morus rubra is a deciduous fruit tree. Its ripe fruit can be eaten fresh or used in preserves and baked foods. Fruit is fragile and keeps poorly.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/06
Harvest ends: 15/08

Crown

Crown shape: round
Crown density: dense crown

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

Sources [3] [2]

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Alabama Cooperative Extension System Native Fruits: Red Mulberry (Morus rubra)
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Uses for People; fruit handling and storage

    Source checked on .

  2. NC State Extension Morus rubra | Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moistureCrownHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Cultural Conditions: Soil Drainage
    • Crown: Description and Habit/Form
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  3. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Red Mulberry
    Supports: Crown
    Relevant sections
    • Crown: Tree description and crown form

    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 240487; name ID 2501906; Morus rubra L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 2530852, ID 73R6J: Morus rubra L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .