Plotwright
Home
Red mulberry
Habit (mature) · Douglas Goldman / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Limited coverage
Red mulberry
Morus rubra
A medium-sized native deciduous tree of eastern North American rich woods, bottomlands, and wood margins — upright-spreading to rounded, typically 35-50 feet tall (occasionally to 80). Noted for milky sap, often-lobed toothed leaves, reddish-brown bark, and showy edible fruit that ripens from red to dark purple. The fruit feeds birds and mammals, and the inconspicuous spring flowers give way to a heavy late-spring crop.
Native: 35 US states + 1 CA province
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (76/100)
Focal point
Structure
Pollinator
Light
Full sun / Part sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
420-600" tall · 360" apart
Hardy in zones
4a-8b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
Related products
Sponsored
Watering and irrigation
Watering cans, soaker hoses, drip kits, moisture meters, and timers.
Search watering and irrigation on Amazon
Moisture retention
Mulch, watering rings, compost, coconut coir, and soil-cover supplies.
Search moisture retention on Amazon
Wildlife protection
Bird netting, deer fencing, rabbit guards, trunk guards, and crop covers.
Search wildlife protection on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Harvest and processing
Harvest baskets, berry bowls, canning gear, drying racks, and kitchen garden tools.
Search harvest and processing on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
A documented larval host for the Mourning cloak and 1 other species — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Red mulberry (Morus rubra). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/red-mulberry
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright