# Paper mulberry (*Broussonetia papyrifera*) The paper mulberry tree is a tall tree with big, heart-shaped leaves. It's known for its soft bark that can be used to make paper and other crafts. This tree is fun to explore and can grow in many places! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Paper mulberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Broussonetia_papyrifera_fruits.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Broussonetia_papyrifera_fruits.jpg) ## Appearance The Paper mulberry has large, variable leaves, often lobed or heart-shaped, with a fuzzy texture and bright green color. Its bark is smooth, pale gray-brown, developing shallow fissures with age. In summer, it produces distinctive red-orange, spherical fruits that resemble spiky gumdrops. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Moraceae - **Genus:** Broussonetia ## Interesting facts - Before paper, ancient people used its bark to make super strong clothes and even currency! - Its leaves can come in many different shapes on the \*same\* tree, like a magic shapeshifter! - The Paper mulberry makes a sweet, juicy fruit that looks like a spiky red lollipop! - This tough tree is one of the fastest growing in the world, sometimes over 3 meters in a year! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Colonizer:** Paper mulberry can quickly grow and spread, colonizing new areas rapidly thanks to its aggressive root system and ability to sprout easily from cuttings. - **Pioneer Power:** Paper mulberry has a remarkable ability to thrive in poor soils and disturbed sites, acting as a pioneer species that helps other plants grow later. - **Fiber Factory:** Paper mulberry can produce strong, fibrous bark that humans have used for millennia to make durable paper and textiles. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-2000 cm - **Spread:** 300-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Silkworm (*Bombyx mori*) — Larvae feed on the leaves. - **Eaten by:** [European Starling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-starling) (*Sturnus vulgaris*) — Disperses seeds after eating the fruit. - **Eats:** [Rhesus macaque](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rhesus-macaque) (*Macaca mulatta*) — Macaques consume the fruits. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fiber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fiber): This human use trait identifies species that yield natural fibers, used by humans for textiles, rope, paper, and other manufactured goods. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and always ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Paper mulberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Paper mulberry? 500-2000 cm ### How wide does Paper mulberry spread? 300-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Paper mulberry? 1-8 cm ### When does Paper mulberry bloom? Spring to early Summer ### Is Paper mulberry edible? Yes ### Is Paper mulberry toxic? None ### What is Paper mulberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Columbia Historic District I](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-historic-district-i) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Congress Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/congress-avenue-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District - [East Wetumpka Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-wetumpka-commercial-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Ortega](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ortega) — Florida, US · Neighborhood - [Robert Beaty Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/robert-beaty-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see Paper mulberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/paper-mulberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Paper mulberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paper-mulberry)