Alien Invasives

Common mulberry (Morus alba)

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03 October 2016

Common mulberry (Morus alba)

Mulberries are medium-sized, deciduous trees that are widely cultivated in gardens for fruit (and its leaves are used to feed silkworms). The bright green leaves can be up to 30cm long on young and vigorous shoots with deeply and intricately lobed margins. Older trees bare leaves that are generally smaller (5 to 15cm long) and tend to be less lobed with serrated margins.
. In spring and early summer Mulberry trees are covered in red to black delicious fruits.

Other names
White mulberry
Silkworm mulberry
Invasive status
NEMBA Category 3

Common Mulberry
Originally from
Northern China
Where is it a problem?
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces
How does it spread?
Seed dispersal by fruit-eating birds
Why is it a problem?
Because of its high growth rate and ability to adapt to different environments, it manages to quickly out-compete native plants and spreads rampantly.
Uses
Edible fruit and leaves for silkworm feeding

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