white mulberry

White Mulberry Morus alba
Family: Moraceae (Mulberry)
Branching: Alternate

The introduced White Mulberry is definitely the more common of the two species in Ontario and they are both relatively small and multi-branched trees. The twigs of the two resemble each other quite closely in the winter. In the summer, the leaves of White Mulberry are smooth on top, while Red Mulberry is sandpaper. The familiar drooping ornamental shrub is a cultivar of this species.

Winter twig of White Mulberry

Another view of the winter twig

Lateral bud and leaf scar

Terminal bud

Middle-aged Bark

Mature White Mulberry