The tallest mulberry species, with sweet fruits and good timber, but still relatively uncommon in north-west Europe. Introduced 1629.

Native to eastern North America, from Ontario (Canada) south to Florida and Texas in the USA.

Dioecious, sometimes monoecious. Wind-pollinated. Seeds distributed by birds.

Medium (15-20m), vigorous, with upright but sinuous branching. Bark grey-brown with an orange hint, developing flattened scaly ridges. Twigs brown with a red-green hue, soon glabrous; buds 3-7mm, ovoid and flattened, oozing white sap when cut. Leaves broad and cordate, unlobed except on young shoots, 7-25cm, scabrous like fine sandpaper above, densely downy below, finely serrate, on a 2-3cm petiole. Flowers inconspicuous. Fruit a syncarp, pale green to red-purple. White Mulberry differs: smooth, smaller leaves. Black Mulberry differs: persistently downy twigs.

Moist soils, often grown with other trees, and shade-tolerant.

No notable associations where introduced.

In native range, engendered due to hybridisation with White Mulberry.

Indigenous American people used all parts of this tree, for medicines, food and timber (including bows). The delicate nature of fruits limit commercial production.