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Has anyone actually bought red mulberry that they independently identified as a red mulberry?
In Native Plant Gardening

Has anyone actually bought red mulberry that they independently identified as a red mulberry?


I have been looking for a red mulberry and even bought them from a local native nursery but all have turned out to be a hybrid. Has anyone actually found any? Do they exist? Feel free to post yours dor identification below lol.

by Many_Needleworker683

10 Comments

  1. Exotic_Cap8939

    Sounds exactly like my experience with petunias. Trying to find P. Axillaris or Integrifolia is impossible without going into the wild parts of Brazil yourself to snag some. Every supplier sells them, but they are all open-pollinated hybrids.

  2. EF5Cyniclone

    Would also love to know of other experiences. Still not positive about mine.

  3. MacaroniNJesus

    I’m pretty sure they grow in the woods at this one park by my house and also at my job in a cemetery.

  4. The_Penaldo

    Yes, from my county’s soil and water conservation district tree sale in Western NY. I got two definitely non-hybridized red mulberry seedlings. I’ll have to take some pictures of them in the morning.

  5. SomeDumbGamer

    It’s a crapshoot Ngl.

    Frankly it’s mostly pointless to try and find 100% pure rubra outside the deep south. Morus alba and its hybrids are far less shade tolerant than rubra so your best bet would be to go into a wood and find one and air layer it in spring.

    I don’t think the hybrids are worthless though. I don’t keep any males obviously, but I’m growing several with prominent rubra traits (fuzzy leaves, large leaves, less lobes, etc) to see if they fruit and if the fruit is tasty. If they’re male or have crappy fruit then I’ll toss em. But if they produce tasty fruit I think they’re worth keeping.

    We’re never eradicating Morus alba at this point. Our best bet is to plant as close to pure rubra phenotypes in shaded forests to help preserve said adaptation.

  9. SomeDumbGamer

    Those spiky serrations are another good sign! I’d say there’s a good chance it’s close to pure rubra. Especially given you’re in Tennessee.

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