Plant Profile: Broussonetia papyrifera

Taxonomy: Broussonetia papyrifera

Names

Paper Mullberry

  • Photo of Broussonetia papyrifera (Broussonetia papyriferas)

Phonetic Spelling:broo-soh-NEH-she-uh pap-ih-RIFF-er-uh

Genus:Broussonetia

Species:papyrifera

Family:Moraceae

The paper-mulberry thrives in sunny, sheltered areas with well-drained soil. While it usually grows as a shrub, it can also be shaped into a tree. This plant propagates effortlessly through seeds, cuttings, or root suckers. Historically, its bark has been utilized for producing paper and textiles.

These trees are ideal for streets or gardens since they do not create a mess with fallen fruit. However, female paper-mulberries can become invasive, potentially overshadowing native plant species.

Broussonetia papyrifera Feature Summary

Broussonetia papyrifera Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#shade tree
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#showy fruits
#food source
#bird friendly
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Broussonetia papyrifera Feature Summary

Attributes
Cloth- and paper-making, medicinal, ornamental.
Bangladesh, Cambodia, China North-Central, China South-Central,
central and southern USA, South America, Europe, Asia
Fruits attract birds
Stem Cutting
Root Cutting
Fruit
On female trees purple-red aggregate fruit clusters in the shape of a round ball.
Red/Burgundy
Purple/Lavender
Flowers
Seperate male and female trees. Female rounded flower heads and male catkins 3" in length appear in April and May.
Red/Burgundy
Green
Orange
Leaves
Dull green simple alternate (sometimes opposite or whorled) oval to lobed to mitten shaped leaves with serrate margins up to 8" in length rought on top and hairy below
Opposite
Alternate
Whorled
Ovate
Obovate
Lobed
Serrate
> 6 inches
Stem
New stems are hairy brownish-red
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Hairy (pubescent)
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Landscape
Shade Tree
Street Tree
Songbirds
Bark
Dark Gray

Broussonetia papyrifera Attributes

Broussonetia papyrifera: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Cloth- and paper-making, medicinal, ornamental.

Broussonetia papyrifera: Country Or Region Of Origin

Bangladesh, Cambodia, China North-Central, China South-Central,

Broussonetia papyrifera: Distribution

central and southern USA, South America, Europe, Asia

Broussonetia papyrifera: Wildlife Value

Fruits attract birds

Broussonetia papyrifera: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Broussonetia papyrifera: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Broussonetia papyrifera Fruit

Broussonetia papyrifera: Fruit Description

On female trees purple-red aggregate fruit clusters in the shape of a round ball.

Broussonetia papyrifera: Fruit Color

grass
Purple/Lavender
grass
Red/Burgundy

Broussonetia papyrifera: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Broussonetia papyrifera Flowers

Broussonetia papyrifera: Flower Description

Seperate male and female trees. Female rounded flower heads and male catkins 3" in length appear in April and May.

Broussonetia papyrifera: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Broussonetia papyrifera: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Broussonetia papyrifera: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Broussonetia papyrifera Leaves

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Description

Dull green simple alternate (sometimes opposite or whorled) oval to lobed to mitten shaped leaves with serrate margins up to 8" in length rought on top and hairy below

Broussonetia papyrifera: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Broussonetia papyrifera: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Broussonetia papyrifera: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Broussonetia papyrifera: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Broussonetia papyrifera Stem

Broussonetia papyrifera: Stem Description

New stems are hairy brownish-red

Broussonetia papyrifera: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Red/Burgundy

Broussonetia papyrifera: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Broussonetia papyrifera: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Broussonetia papyrifera Whole Plant Traits

Broussonetia papyrifera: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Broussonetia papyrifera: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Broussonetia papyrifera: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Broussonetia papyrifera: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Broussonetia papyrifera: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Broussonetia papyrifera Cultural Conditions

Broussonetia papyrifera: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Broussonetia papyrifera: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Broussonetia papyrifera: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Broussonetia papyrifera Landscape

Broussonetia papyrifera: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Broussonetia papyrifera: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Broussonetia papyrifera: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Broussonetia papyrifera: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy

Broussonetia papyrifera Bark

Broussonetia papyrifera: Bark Color

grass
Dark Gray