Red mulberry

Morus rubra

Overview: The red mulberry is a medium-sized, deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It has a broad, rounded crown, lobed leaves, and edible, blackberry-like fruits that mature to a dark purple color.

Harvest and availability: The fruit, which resembles a blackberry, ripens in late spring. The fruit is a dark reddish purple when ripe.

Taste and Flavor: Mulberries taste juicy and sweet. They can be enjoyed eaten fresh or used as a cooking ingredient. They are refreshing, slightly tart, and sweet.

Nutritional Value: Mulberries are packed with vitamin C and iron. They are a nutritious snack, offering antioxidants and contributing to immune health.

Culinary Uses: Mulberries can be eaten fresh or used in place of other berries in recipes. They work well in desserts, jams, smoothies, syrups, and as a healthy snack.

Allergies and Precautions: Mulberries are generally safe to eat, but care should be taken with unripe berries, which can be mildly toxic if consumed in large quantities.

Fun Trivia: Squirrels and many birds as well as humans eat this fruit. Native Americans used the roots as a medicinal tea and the inner bark to weave with.