Broussonetia papyrifera

Common Name: paper mulberry

Family: Moraceae

Common Synonyms: Morus papyrifera

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7a-11

Growth Habit: Tree

Origin: Japan and Taiwan

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: Earliest Florida herbarium specimen from 1929

IFAS Assessment:

• North: CAUTION
• Central: CAUTION
• South: CAUTION

Description

Deciduous large thicket-forming shrub or tree to 15 m with milky sap. Young twigs pubescent. Leaves alternate, simple, broadly oval and often deeply 3-5 lobed, pubescent on lower surface and rough on upper surface. Leaf margins serrate. Leaves may be clustered at ends of branches and appear whorled. Petioles can be long (up to the length of the leaf). Fruit is a globose to club-shaped syncarp to 2.5 cm in diameter.

Habitat

Disturbed open areas and habitat edges

Comments

Similar to the native red mulberry (Morus rubra), but with pubescent twigs and longer petioles

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: Basal bark (15-30% triclopyr ester). Addition of 3% imazapyr will increase consistency. Small trees and seedlings can be hand pulled or foliar treated with glyphosate (1% - 3%). [IFAS]
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida. 2008. University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Circlular 1529

Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry: http://www.agroforestry.net/images/pdfs/Broussonetia-papermulb.pdf