Knowledgebase

Red mulberry #750417

Asked May 17, 2021, 1:50 PM EDT

This sapling is in my yard. Haven’t seen blooms or berries. The leaves look like a red mulberry. What do you think? Thanks.

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

It does look like a mulberry, or possibly a gooseberry, or currant.  Do you have any of these in fairly close proximity where a seed might have transferred?  Here is an interesting article about red mulberry in the southeastern part of Minnesota -

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2017/may-jun/red-mulberry.html

Diane M Replied May 17, 2021, 7:10 PM EDT
I can check with the neighbor behind the fence in the pic. I am in Minneapolis on 46th and Columbus. I have lived here 2 years, but the lady before me was an avid gardener. I wonder if she might have planted seedlings? (there are 2) Can animal droppings spread seeds?

It would be pretty cool if it was a red mulberry.

Mary

On Monday, May 17, 2021, 6:11:25 PM CDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied May 18, 2021, 6:47 AM EDT

It would be nice if it were a red mulberry.  Because of climate change, trees to the south of the Twin Cities are moving northward, so it's possible.  Animals can indeed transfer seeds through their droppings as well as carrying them on their coats.

Diane M Replied May 18, 2021, 8:19 AM EDT
Here are photos from each tree flowers. I think they are indeed red mulberries.

Maryimageimage

Sent from my iPad

On May 17, 2021, at 6:11 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied May 22, 2021, 10:51 AM EDT

This is more likely a white mulberry.  The margins are rough; red mulberry edges are more jagged.  The veins resemble those in white mulberry as well.  See the following article on differentiating between the two varieties - 

https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr_237.pdf

For information on white mulberry in Minnesota, see https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/tree/white-mulberry

Diane M Replied May 22, 2021, 5:39 PM EDT

Loading ...