If the stack does not measure approximately four millimeters thick or more, then it most likely is not Morus nigra. An excellent paper from Purdue University describing the difference between Morus rubra and Morus alba can be found here: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr_237.pdf. There is an “old school” method which allows identification of one species of mulberry (but not the individual cultivars). Young fruit is often white or pink, darkening becoming red, purple and eventually if left unpicked they may turn black as it ripens into a delicious sweet fruit. Even if you only have one male plant (like Morus, they are usually male or female), new plants will spring up from underground roots anywhere and everywhere within fifty feet of the tree. The fruits when immature are white or green to pale yellow with pink edges. The canopy can spread up to 45′ wide. See photo below. Mulberry fruits are tender and juicy and resemble blackberries. The cankers start out as sunken areas on the branches or trunk. Even the "limbs grown into shade die to the bole" is totally an "in my experience" observation. Red mulberry twigs … If you have questions don't hesitate to call (760) 503-4647 with any questions. The mulberry was originally imported from China in the 1600’s to feed silkworms in an effort to start the silk industry in the Americas. My name is Nathan Andersen and I started Nate's Nursery in 2017 and specialize in landscape trees and bonsai trees. Morus alba cultivars will generally have an upper leaf surface that has a waxy, glossy appearance, while Morus rubra cultivars (and hybrids), and Morus nigra, will appear relatively dull. The terms "male tree" and "female tree" really don't apply to trees with both male and female flowers, or trees with flowers … Mulberry leaf spot can be treated with fungicide. The tip of each white mulberry bud is short and needle sharp, and each bud scale has a brown band which is not necessarily on the margin. Morus nigra has a thick, substantial leaf, relative to most mulberry cultivars, and their leaf thickness can be used to help identify this favorite species: Take a couple mature leaves (measuring at least 4 inches in length), and using sharp scissors, cut ten similar sized rectangular sections of leaf (do not include any portion of the primary vein). If the leaves have rounded teeth on the edges, it is either white or red mulberry; white mulberry leaves are glossy while red ones are less so. Tree identification by images of bark. Longevity 50 to 150 years. The lower leaf surface of Morus rubra and Morus nigra is quite hairy, giving a soft pubescent feel when lightly stroked. Morus nigra. Erect or Spreading with a Low Canopy. There is usually a color difference in the twigs of the two species as well. Stack them on top each other and hold them between your thumb and index finger with a bit of the stack protruding. Fruitless mulberries are prone to developing cankers if the tree has any type of surface wound. The species is native to northern China and India, … White mulberries are grown for their leaves (to feed silkworms) and are very rare in Britain. Most are black mulberries, grown for their shade and juicy fruit. At this point, they are fairly hard to distinguish from the healthy part of the tree. Green logs are super heavy, but it loses a lot of weight as it dries. Identifying trees by examining the bark that grows on trees commonly found in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. Range/Site Description: Occurs in East and Central Texas, west to the Devils River, preferring rich, moist soils of riverbottoms, often growing in the shade of larger trees. Morus nigra has perhaps the slowest growth among the different Morus species (The Gerardi Dwarf also has similar growth habits, but is not a Morus nigra or Morus nigra hybrid). Knowing this and the invasiveness of the roots, we can deduce that one should not plant this tree: Fruiting and Fruitless Mulberries are non toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses. But what works for one species or cultivar, may not apply to another. My goal would be to have some uniformity in mulberry cultivars so that a cultivar from one nursery would be the identical cultivar from another nursery. By comparison, most cultivars of Morus alba and Morus rubra "stack up" to be two to three millimeters thick. The canopy can spread up to 45′ wide. If not irrigated in some way over an extended period of time, the roots extend further to seek out water elsewhere and can become a problem. Sooty Canker Tree Disease Identification. only grow this plant if you want IT to take over your yard and your neighbor's. A medium or large tree, to 50 feet tall, with a trunk up to 2 feet in diameter and a spreading crown. The white mulberry tree (Morus alba) is native to Asia. -- I just have a lot of exp with plant identification, maybe learning a few basic things about each. It is drought-resistant and fast-growing, preferring full sun to light shade.. Choose a variety that suits your garden style and your ability to rise to the challenges the trees … It is generally a short-lived tree with a lifespan comparable to that of humans, although there are some specimens known to be over 250 years old. Despite its many good traits, the fruitless white mulberry tree is not suitable for every landscape. They are also the most widely mistreated trees in the high desert. An exemplary description between Morus rubra and Morus alba buds appears in the Purdue University "Red and White Mulberry in Indiana", as noted and linked above: "Red mulberry has larger, more flattened buds that often sit off-center on the twig; the margin of each scale has a black band. Mulberry Tree. Its leaves are exceedingly rough on both sides, whereas red mulberrys' are rough only on the top. Knowing this and the invasiveness of the roots, we can deduce that one should not plant this tree: Close to your house (within 25′) Near your septic tank. However, presenting this idea of targeted sequencing to unravel the “taxonomic mess” to a genetics expert, I received the following response: “This is a very complex group, yes, a taxonomic mess, that will not be solved by targeting sequencing. The roots on Fruitless Mulberry trees are very shallow, which causes the root zone to dry out quickly. Can tolerate drought once established. In most species the fruits are red when they are ripening, turning dark purple to black and have a sweet flavor. Mulberry trees are commonly dioecious, meaning that they are male or female, and the female-bearing trees require the pollen of the male, non-bearing trees to set fruit. I believe the properties stated in the article are accurate and the information quoted by JocelyneS above is not accurate. Has Deciduous foliage. The fruit is a multiple fruit, 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.2 in) long. Mulberry leaf shape and size are extremely variable between species, hybrids, and cultivars; even on the same plant, and often varying significantly according to the age of the plant or the amount of sunlight. Fruiting or fruitless, 6-foot dwarf varieties or 50-foot species and sun-lover or partial shade-lover, mulberry trees (Morus spp) of all types have complications of one sort or another. Fruitless Mulberry. But if you’re struggling, you can always fall back on leaf identification. Most mulberry species and cultivars are relatively easy to propagate by convention means. Growing fruitless mulberry tree: The seedless mulberry is an easy tree to grow in every respect; it will even grow in nearly pure gravel. I have had the most lush and beautiful, full fruitless mulberry tree. Long, straight branches are a distinguishing feature of Morus alba cultivars; the exception being the contorted 'Unryu' and 'Tortuosa' cultivars. Fruitless Mulberry trees are one of the most frequently planted trees in the high desert. Morus nigra (Noir de Spain)       with lobed leaves. Fruitless Mulberry trees can grow up to 60′ in ideal conditions, but more commonly grow up to 35′ in our high desert climate. Understanding how to properly care for your Fruitless Mulberry will help you to get the most out of your tree and minimize the time, effort, and money spent on taking care of them. Grows well in any soil. Because they produce large amounts of pollen during the spring, fruitless (male) mulberries can raise havoc with allergy (hay-fever) sufferers. It is common on the white rock escarpment of Dallas County, where it grows as a small shrub from 6 to 12 feet. Contact/ Nursery List. It is listed as an invasive plant in southeastern US states and over a dozen countries worldwide. Morus rubra and some of its hybrids have an upper leaf surface that is highly textured. There is usually a color difference in the twigs of the two species as well. There is an abundance of Youtube videos and internet guides that give good instructions on growing mulberries from cuttings and seed, grafting, and air layering. See: Conifer Bark. Uses for fruitless mulberry tree: This tree is ideal where fast shade is needed. This means they grow on branches in a left-right-left pattern, and grow as individual leaves (rather than leaflets attached to a larger “compound” leaf). I’m often asked to identify “that tree that has lots of blackberries hanging from it!”. Most often it is a white mulberry, Morus alba. Morus nigra and Morus rubra leaves (and most hybrids) will have a sandpaper like feel when stroked gently on the upper leaf surface in the direction of the petiole. Sooty canker is one of many tree diseases that affect bark, particularly on the branches of a tree, though it can affect the trunk of a tree as well. Morus nigra has large, dark brown or black buds (hence "nigra") relative to other mulberries. (1) Genetic relatedness among cultivated and wild mulberry (Moraceae: Morus) as revealed by inter-simple sequence       repeat analysis in China; Zhao, W., Zhou, Z., Miao, X., Wang, S., Zhang, L., Pan, Y. and Huang, Y. White mulberry buds are smaller and more domed in the middle, and they usually sit along the center of the twig. White Mulberry vs Red Mulberry – Identification. With wide leaves and a dense, spreading crown, the fruitless mulberry provides welcome shade. If you are interested in wanting to know if that mulberry tree you purchased as a Morus nigra is actually a Morus nigra, I will be glad to do a determination (at no charge). But after a time, the canker will start to swell and become dark and corky. Since most plants are bought in the winter months, devoid of foliage, bud size and color are useful in identifying mulberries. It is a smaller tree than red mulberry, averaging around 25 feet high, and the leaves and fruit are likewise smaller. The leaves on the species are medium to large, green and in a shape the looks like a cross between a maple and a fig leaf. My main reason for creating this website is to provide some enlightenment to allow for an informed purchase choice. A tree is termed female if all its flowers are female flowers, with stigma that receives pollen and a mechanism that directs the pollen to the ovary at its base. I couldn't agree more! Typical Morus nigra leaf shape and size (1/2 inch mat squares). Morus alba 'Itoguwa' grows into a small, non-fruiting shrub. Leaves Ovate to Cordate sometimes Lobed, Dark Green, Golden or Yellow or Orange, Deciduous. Trees of the High Desert – Fruitless Mulberry, https://www.natesnursery.com/shade-trees-high-desert/, In proximity to power lines or utility lines. It provided very little shade. Morus rubra: Dull leaves with finer leaf margin serrations than alba. I’ve harvested a 20″ diameter red mulberry tree and worked with the wood. A distinguishing feature of Morus rubra is a pronounced acuminate leaf apex (tip of leaf). Apple, Crabapple ~ Bark Ash, Green ~ Bark Aspen, Quaking ~ Bark Buckeye, Ohio ~ Bark Catalpa, Western ~ Bark Chokecherry ~ Bark Cottonwood, Plains ~ Bark … The tip of each white mulberry bud is short and needle sharp, and each bud scale has a brown band which is not necessarily on the margin. http://www.eatweeds.co.uk : A short video walking you through how to identify a Mulberry Tree, along with its uses. The growth habits of various species and cultivars can also help in mulberry identification. The stuff is strong, fairly hard and fairly dense. Non-Bearing Mulberry Trees. The wood is of little commercial importance. In fact, it was dead. The discerning difference between them is Paper Mulberry has hair on its reddish leaf petioles and hair on its tender small branches. The ripe fruit that arrive in summer are red, purple, black or white in hue and resemble … [2006], (2) Genetic diversity and relationships in mulberry (genus Morus) as revealed by RAPD and ISSR marker assays;      Arvind K Awasthi, GM Nagaraja, GV Naik, Sriramana Kanginakudru, K Thangavelu and Javaregowda Nagaraju      [2004]. Even if you only have one male plant (like Morus, they are usually male or female), new plants will spring up from underground roots anywhere and everywhere within fifty feet of the tree. Paper Mulberry does have a fruit that is edible but only grow this plant if you want IT to take over your yard and your neighbor's. Fruitless Mulberry trees can grow up to 60′ in ideal conditions, but more commonly grow up to 35′ in our high desert climate. This summer we had even less and stunted leaves (we could see through the tree clearly). "Red mulberry has larger, more flattened buds that often sit off-center on the twig; the margin of each scale has a black band. Simple, lobed leaf with serrated margins having an alternate arrangement on twigs. It was kind of like one half of a branch grew, with smaller leaves and the other half of the branch did not grow. Known as "fruitless mulberry," they make a fast-growing shade tree without all the messy fruits of female trees that stain clothing and walkways with a purple juice. Morus nigra has a gnarly, somewhat zigzagged growth appearance with relatively short internodes (distance between buds). Yearly pruning of Fruitless Mulberry trees is believed by many to invigorate the tree, when it is actually very harmful to the tree. The California red scale, oleander scale and San Jose scale are armored scale insects that feed on mulberry tree fluids. … Please Register/Login to see the price Easy to grow, fast growing deciduous shade tree with emerald green leaves. Fruitless mulberry trees are particularly susceptible to it. To the first question: I'm not even super-familiar with the Mulberry Trees I have on my land. Fast Facts: Red Mulberry Morus nigra can be identified with a high level of certainty by microscopic examination of their cell nucleus and nucleolus size. Mulberry roots that search for air, nutrients and water are referred to as lateral, or horizontal, roots. Click on images of bark to enlarge. The symptoms of sooty canker are: Wilt of leaves, more dramatically during hot or windy weather; Small leaves; Brown leaves; Early cankers will be continually moist, brown … The white mulberry, Morus alba, is native to China and has several differences including size, foliage, and color of fruit. Someday, in the not too distant future, genetic testing will be commonplace and inexpensive, and maybe then cultivars will be better identified. Although there are some nurseries that purposely mislead the public, most are just misinformed. 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