White mulberry
Morus alba, commonly known as the white mulberry, is a deciduous tree native to northern China. It belongs to the Moraceae family and has been cultivated for over 4,000 years, primarily for its leaves, which serve as the exclusive food source for the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori).
History in the United States
The Native Red Mulberry
In the mid-1500s, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto observed members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in the southeastern United States consuming dried fruit of the native mulberry, Morus rubra. Indigenous peoples also incorporated mulberries into cornbread, used the berries to produce natural dyes, and crafted bows from the tree’s branches.
When English settlers of the Virginia Company arrived at the site of what would become the Jamestown settlement in May 1607, they began documenting the landscape and its inhabitants.
Captain John Smith remarked that “Virginia doth afford many excellent vegetables and living creatures,” and among his observations were “some great Mulberry trees,” which he noted grew naturally in “prettie groves” and near the dwellings of Indigenous peoples.
These early accounts reflect the settlers’ recognition of the native mulberry’s presence and utility in the region long before the introduction of the white mulberry from Asia.
Introduction of the White Mulberry
White mulberry was brought to North America in the early 1600s as part of efforts to establish a domestic silk industry. In 1624, the Virginia legislature mandated that every male resident plant at least four white mulberry trees to support this initiative.
Thomas Jefferson is also reported to have planted the trees every 20 feet on his estate, Monticello.
The idea gained momentum in the 1830s during a period known as “mulberry mania,” when large-scale plantations were established in the eastern U.S. However, the industry collapsed due to harsh winters in the Northeast and disease outbreaks in the South.
Despite the failure of the silk industry, Morus alba persisted and spread across the country. It is now found in 48 of the 50 U.S. states, excluding Nevada and Alaska. The species has naturalized in various habitats, including floodplains, forest edges, urban lots, and disturbed areas. Its ability to hybridize with the native red mulberry M. rubra of the East, and the Texas mulberry M. microphylla of the Southwest, has raised ecological concerns, as it threatens the genetic integrity of the native species.
Botanical Description
Botanically, Morus alba is a fast-growing tree that can reach heights of 30-60 feet with many-branched, spreading crowns.
It has rough grayish-brown bark with vertical fissures, and exudes a white or yellowish latex when cut.
The leaves are simple, green, toothed and highly variable, ranging from unlobed to deeply lobed. All mulberry leaves contain a white, milky sap.
The size of the leaves varies with species. On mature trees, the white mulberry typically has leaves that are 3 to 5 inches long, but the native red variety has larger leaves, spanning from 4 to 12 inches long.
Leaf texture also varies among mulberry species. Mature white mulberry leaves typically have a glossy upper surface, although saplings may exhibit a rougher texture. These leaves may also feature scattered tufts of hair along the main vein on the underside.
In contrast, red mulberry leaves are never glossy, and their upper surface is covered with uniform, stiff hairs. For more details on differentiating the various mulberry species, see Mulberries in North America · iNaturalist
Mulberry flowers appear in the spring and are quite small and greenish. Male flowers are grow in long, thin clusters called catkins, while female flowers are typically on shorter, rounder stalks.
The blossoms are wind pollinated, and the resulting fruit is a syncarp composed of multiple drupes.
Fruits can be white, pink, or purple when ripe and resemble blackberries.
As mentioned above, the white mulberry naturalizes readily, thanks to the birds that enjoy its fruit. My new house has a large mulberry tree as well as several small shrubby volunteers scattered across the property.
Uses
White mulberry trees bear fruit during June and July. The berries are considered fully ripe when they detach easily from the branches without the need for plucking. Mulberry fruit is very fragile and does not keep or transport well. To collect enough for another culinary adventure, I found it easiest to freeze the berries as I gathered them.
Mulberry leaves have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 4,000 years. Herbal preparations include external applications like salves to reduce the appearance of scars and age spots, and to soothe rashes, acne, pimples, and other skin irritations.
The leaves are also used in oral teas and tinctures to support eyesight, liver function, and to treat conditions such as dysentery, dizziness, coughs, colds, and colic.
Greens and young shoots can be eaten raw or lightly sautéed and the flavor is reported to be very mild.
The bark of the mulberry tree also has a history of medicinal use. In traditional European herbalism, bark decoctions were used to treat tapeworms as a laxative. Among some Native American groups, the milky sap was applied to ringworm, and root teas were used to address dysentery, weakness, fever, and urinary difficulties.
Modern studies have shown that mulberries have antioxidant, neuroprotective, antiatherosclerosis, antihypertensive, immunomodulative, antitumor, antihyperglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties.
NOTE: The leaves, twigs, bark, and unripe berries contain a mildly toxic, latex-like, white sap. When ingested, some individuals report side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, bloating, dizziness, or constipation.
If you’re new to using mulberry, it’s best to start with a small amount to gauge your body’s response.
Folklore
The Roman poet Virgil referred to the mulberry as L’arbre d’or, or “the tree of gold,” in recognition of its diverse applications in food, medicine, and toolmaking.
The mulberry tree also features prominently in the ancient tale of Pyramus and Thisbe, two lovers whose forbidden romance ended in tragedy.
As recounted by the Roman poet Ovid in his Metamorphoses, the couple secretly met beneath a mulberry tree to conceal their love from disapproving parents. A fatal misunderstanding led each to believe the other had died, prompting both to take their own lives. According to legend, their spilled blood stained the tree’s white berries, turning them a deep, reddish-purple.
The mulberry is also featured in this popular nursery rhyme. Originally a British dance song from the 1850’s, there have been many lyrical variations and it wasn’t until the 1910’s in the United States that the version below became popular.
All around the mulberry bush
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey thought it was all in fun.
Pop! goes the weasel.
Recipes
Mulberry Clafoutis
I used this recipe from At Home with Tori, with the only variation being the addition of nutmeg. A clafoutis is a classic French dessert made of fruit, traditionally black cherries, baked in a thick, pancake-like batter. However, technically when made with other fruits, it is called a flaugnarde.
- 2 cups mulberries
- 3 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup flour
- Pinch of salt
- Freshly grated nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 x 8 square pan and spread mulberries evenly across the bottom. Grate fresh nutmeg over the berries.
Combine the flour and salt and set aside.
Beat the eggs and the egg yolk together until light. Beat in the sugar, then the milk and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients and beat until the mixture is well combined, light and airy.
Pour the mixture over the berries. Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden and the top springs back when touched.
May be served warm, room temperature or cold.
Mulberry Curd
Curds are similar to jams and jellies in that it is often spread on toast, used as a topping for scones, or filling for cakes. However, because two key ingredients are eggs and butter, curd has a texture similar to custard and is not considered a traditional preserve and has a shorter shelf life, requiring refrigeration. The most common flavor is lemon curd but many other flavors of curd exist. Below is an adaptation from the Cook’s Pajamas‘ recipe where I added fresh vanilla bean to the mulberry curd to enhance the rather bland berry flavor of this cultivar’s harvest.
- 3 cups of mulberries
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 4 eggs
Sterilize your canning jars and lids.
Simmer berries on a medium heat for 5 – 10 minutes, or until softened and starting to fall apart. Push the mulberry pulp through a fine sieve with a spoon into a bowl. Reserve the puree and discard/compost any solids left in the sieve. Allow the puree to cool before proceeding. This is important as the puree will curdle the eggs if it is too hot.
Place the mulberry puree, lemon juice, sugar, and butter in bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved.
In a bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy, then slowly pour into the mulberry puree.
Stir continuously until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Do not allow the mixture to boil or it will curdle.
To bottle, ladle the curd into the clean, warm jars, and seal lids. Boil in a hot water bath for 15 minutes after the temperature reaches 180°F. Cool and refrigerate.
References
Adamant, A. (2025, September 10). Foraging mulberries (Morus sp.). Practical Self-Reliance. https://practicalselfreliance.com/mulberry-morus-sp/
Bellincampi, S. (2020, June 30). Round the mulberry bush. Vineyard Gazette. https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2020/06/30/round-mulberry-bush
Bergo, A. (2024, October 30). Foraging and cooking mulberries. Forager Chef. https://foragerchef.com/mulberries/
Center for International Forestry Research. (n.d.). Morus alba L. https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Morus_alba.PDF
Everett. W. (2023, September 5). Foraging for mulberries. Insteading. https://insteading.com/blog/foraging-for-mulberries/
Gershon, L. (2017, November 19). When America went crazy for mulberry trees. JSTOR Daily. https://daily.jstor.org/when-america-went-crazy-for-mulberry-trees/
Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Morus alba – Plant Finder. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282726
Muhitch, K. (n.d.). Forgotten fruit: A brief history of mulberries in the United States. The Baltimore Orchard Project. https://www.baltimoreorchardproject.org/stories/forgottenfruit
Stone, K. R. (2009). Morus alba. In Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/moralb/all.html
Lal, S. (2022). Morus alba (mulberry): Nature’s gift to mankind. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386453688_Morus_alba_Mulberry_Nature’s_Gift_to_Mankind
Sycamore. S. (2025). Mulberries — Morus spp. Edible Wild Plant Info. https://ediblewild.info/plants/mulberries
Virginia Living. (2016, August 30). Forgotten fruit. https://virginialiving.com/uncategorized/forgotten-fruit/
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