Plant Profile: Morus rubra 'Townsend'

Names

Townsend Red Mulberry

  • Photo of Morus rubra 'Townsend' (Morus rubra 'Townsend's)

Phonetic Spelling:MOR-russ ROO-bruh

Genus:Morus

Species:rubra

Family:Moraceae

Morus rubra 'Townsend', often referred to as Townsend red mulberry, is a native tree that boasts both edible fruits and ornamental qualities. This species can thrive for up to 125 years, although its tendency to become invasive can be a drawback. It is also more resilient to cold temperatures compared to black mulberry.

However, the fruit can create a mess by staining vehicles and driveways when it falls, so it's advisable to plant it in a more naturalized setting.

For further details on Morus rubra, please refer to additional resources.

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Feature Summary

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Image Gallery

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Tags

#deciduous
#drought tolerant
#weedy
#berries
#messy
#deer resistant
#edible garden
#bird friendly
#butterfly friendly
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats

Similar Plants

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Feature Summary

Attributes
Wildlife Value:
This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.  It is a possible host plant for the Red Admiral butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by many birds, especially gray catbirds and northern mockingbirds, foxes, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels.
Fruit
Fruit Description:
Numerous sweet fruit that looks like the blackberry but slender.
Fruit Length:
1-3 inches
Flowers
Flower Description:
The small yellowish-green flower of the Townsend red mulberry is not showy. Male flower and female flower can bloom on the same tree or different trees.
Leaves
Leaf Description:
Alternate broad simple green leaves with a notch at the base and a finely serrated margin. The upper surface is rough and under surface is full of soft hair.
Leaf Feel:
Rough
Velvety
Whole Plant Traits
Plant Type:
Edible
Tree
Habit/Form:
Erect
Oval
Texture:
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Soil Drainage:
Good Drainage
NC Region:
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Stem
Landscape
Landscape Theme:
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Landscape Location:
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Attracts:
Butterflies
Songbirds

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Image Gallery

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Attributes

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Wildlife Value

This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.  It is a possible host plant for the Red Admiral butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by many birds, especially gray catbirds and northern mockingbirds, foxes, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels.

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Fruit

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Fruit Description

Numerous sweet fruit that looks like the blackberry but slender.

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Fruit Color

grass
Black

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Fruit Value To Gardener

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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Flowers

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Flower Description

The small yellowish-green flower of the Townsend red mulberry is not showy. Male flower and female flower can bloom on the same tree or different trees.

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Green

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Leaves

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Leaf Description

Alternate broad simple green leaves with a notch at the base and a finely serrated margin. The upper surface is rough and under surface is full of soft hair.

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Leaf Type

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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Leaf Margin

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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Leaf Feel

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

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Whole Plant Traits

Morus rubra 'Townsend': 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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Morus rubra 'Townsend': 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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Cultural Conditions

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Soil Drainage

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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': 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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Morus rubra 'Townsend': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Stem

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Morus rubra 'Townsend' Landscape

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Morus rubra 'Townsend': 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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Morus rubra 'Townsend': Attracts

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

Morus rubra 'Townsend': 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