Mulberry

Scientific name: Morus alba

Overview

Mulberry in this profile is White Mulberry, Morus alba, a Chinese tree widely cultivated for silkworm feed and fruit. Its yellow wood is also used in furniture and specialty woodworking. Keep the botanical name with lumber records because other Morus species and hybrids may be sold under the same common name.

Quick Facts

  • Common Name: Mulberry (White Mulberry)
  • Scientific Name: Morus alba
  • Family: Moraceae
  • Native Range: Central China
  • Wood Type: Hardwood
  • Air-Dry Density: About 659 kg/m³ in a Turkish study; a study result, not a universal average
  • Janka Hardness: Study reports 67.81 N/mm² tangential and 64.38 N/mm² radial; these are not directly interchangeable with lbf ratings

Identification Characteristics

Identify the source tree alongside the wood. Leaf shape and fruit color vary considerably, so neither is a sufficient species test by itself.

Key identification traits include:

  • Bright yellow wood recorded in botanical descriptions.
  • Alternate leaves ranging from unlobed to deeply lobed.
  • Rough, furrowed gray-brown bark.
  • Multiple fruits may ripen white, pink, red or dark purple.

Working Properties

Mulberry has documented uses in turning and carpentry. Research on varnished Morus alba shows that color and gloss can change during weathering. Test the actual wood and finish rather than assuming a coating will preserve its initial appearance.

  • Use sharp cutters and trial cuts to check tearout, especially where grain changes direction.
  • Seal fresh end grain and dry carefully; check for cracks and distortion.
  • Acclimate before final sizing, and test glue joints and finishes on offcuts.
  • Verify decay resistance before outdoor use; select sound, documented material.

Safety Note

Use effective dust extraction and suitable respiratory and eye protection when machining or sanding. Wood dust can irritate the skin and respiratory tract; stop work if a reaction develops.

Common Uses

Recorded timber uses include carpentry, turning, furniture and fencing. Suitability depends on soundness, seasoning and the intended service conditions.

  • Furniture and carpentry.
  • Turned objects and small craft work.
  • Fencing and garden woodworking where performance is confirmed.
  • Musical instruments and reference wood collections.

Sustainability & Notes

White Mulberry is naturalized widely and is invasive in some regions. Authorized local salvage may provide useful wood. Confirm tree identity, ownership and transport requirements, and avoid spreading seed or moving pest-infested material.

Comparative Notes & Related Species

Related Guides

Compare Wood Properties

See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.

Collector Notes

Record the scientific name, locality and source tree. Keep photographs of freshly worked wood and the same surface after aging. Record moisture condition with density measurements and avoid substituting values from red mulberry or unidentified Morus material.

Share Your Photos of This Species

Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?

Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.

When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.

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Wood Sample Collection

This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.

Learn more about contributing to the collection:

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Resources

Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:

• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/

• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/

Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.

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Availability & Where to Buy

Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.

As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.

Lumber Suppliers:

Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.

Related Tools & Products:

Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.

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