Features: Red mulberry (Morus rubra) is a small, understory tree that usually reaches heights of only about 30 feet. In Ontario, it grows in moist, deciduous forest habitats such as valleys, floodplains and sand spits in the Carolinian Forest Zone. It has flaky, reddish brown bark and coarsely toothed leaves that may be either simple or lobed. The fruit is juicy and edible, and resembles a blackberry.

Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally

Range: Red mulberry occurs from Massachusetts west through extreme southwestern Ontario to Minnesota, and south to states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Although it is "at risk" in some range-edge states, the species is considered to be relatively secure in its main United States range. In Ontario, it is found at ten locations (only six of which have more than five trees each) in the western Lake Ontario region, in Kent and Essex counties on Lake Erie, and in the Niagara region. Range Maps

Threats: Red mulberry reaches its northern range limits in Ontario and was probably never common here. At present, hybridization with the introduced white mulberry (Morus alba), a native of eastern Asia, poses the gravest threat to red mulberry in Ontario. Hybridization also threatens some populations in the main United States range. In Ontario, hybrids become established wherever the two species occur in the same area, and very few populations of pure Red Mulberry remain. The species appears to have low reproductive success here, and damage by snails and slugs may hinder the establishment of new seedlings. Habitat destruction has resulted in the loss of a number of Red Mulberry populations and continues to be a threat.

Protection: Red mulberry is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species from being killed, harmed or collected, and protects its habitat from damage or destruction. Additionally, the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) protects Red Mulberry on the federal lands on which it occurs. The majority of populations of pure Red Mulberry are on publicly or privately owned conservation lands. The Red Mulberry Recovery Team has developed a detailed recovery plan and management has begun. It includes a small scale White Mulberry control program at one publicly owned site. Ontario's Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP) will provide 100% tax relief to private landowners for the portion of their property (minumum size 0.5 acres) determined to be habitat of species in regulation under the ESA. The CLTIP recognizes, encourages and supports private land stewardship.

Text Sources: Ambrose 1987; Hosie 1969; Ambrose 1998

Last Modified Date: October 2008