Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

 Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous and heart-shaped with a long pointed apex, roughly toothed margin and a rough, prominently veined surface.  Leaves often have 1-3 lobes and are hairy on the underside.   Petiole exudes milky sap when cut.  Twigs are brown with large, shiny ovoid terminal buds with 6-7 overlapping scales.  Bark is brown to red-brown, becoming ridged and scaly with age.  Fruit is an edible red-purple drupe that resembles blackberry.  Red mulberry is found on a variety of sites in the east and central U.S. and is tolerant of shade.  The fruit is used in jams and wines, and relished by many wildlife species including turkey, foxes, and raccoon. 

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All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.