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White mulberry identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
White mulberry, Morus alba, is an introduced tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Toothed leaves 3 to 6 inches long, often with irregular lobes, smooth (not sandpapery) on top. Bark: Orange-brown when young, later gray with long narrow ridges. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify white mulberry
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Toothed leaves 3 to 6 inches long, often with irregular lobes, smooth (not sandpapery) on top. |
| Bark | Orange-brown when young, later gray with long narrow ridges. |
| Fruit | Blackberry-like fruit about 1 inch long, pale pink to dark red, less juicy than red mulberry. |
| Twigs | Slender zigzag gray to orange-brown twigs. |
| Size and shape | Up to about 40 feet, branching low into a wide crown. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is white mulberry native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists white mulberry as introduced: it is not native to Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania DCNR lists white mulberry as an invasive plant, rank 3 (lesser threat). DCNR defines invasive plants as species that are not native, grow aggressively and push out native plants.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like white mulberry
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Red mulberry Morus rubra | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Toothed leaves 3 to 5 inches long, rough like sandpaper on top and fuzzy underneath; can be unlobed or deeply lobed on the same tree. |
| Osage-orange Maclura pomifera | Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges. Glossy, smooth-edged leaves 2 to 5 inches long with a long pointed tip. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Questions
How do you identify white mulberry?
Look for alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Toothed leaves 3 to 6 inches long, often with irregular lobes, smooth (not sandpapery) on top. Bark: Orange-brown when young, later gray with long narrow ridges.
Is white mulberry native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists white mulberry as introduced: it is not native to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania DCNR lists white mulberry as an invasive plant, rank 3 (lesser threat).
How big does white mulberry get?
Up to about 40 feet, branching low into a wide crown.
How can you tell white mulberry in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Slender zigzag gray to orange-brown twigs. Bark: Orange-brown when young, later gray with long narrow ridges.
What tree looks like white mulberry?
Red mulberry, Osage-orange. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Morus alba fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status); Pennsylvania DCNR Invasive Plant List. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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