Reviving Mulberry

How the Mulberry Faded from Our Foraging Culture

Long before health food stores were stocked with imported acai, dried goji berries, and expensive superfood powders, the landscape of Texas provided its own nutritional powerhouse: the mulberry. Growing wild across the state, the native Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) and the Texas Mulberry (Morus microphylla) were once a celebrated and abundant food source. For centuries, Native American tribes, Mexican communities, and early Tejano settlers relied on these trees not just for sustenance, but for medicine, textiles, and tools.

Yet, today, the mulberry is largely absent from our grocery store shelves and modern diets. Instead of being revered as a native superfood, it is often dismissed by urban planners and homeowners as a messy "trash tree."

The Original Texas Superfood

Mulberries are a true superfood, boasting a nutritional profile that rivals or exceeds many commercial berries. Fresh mulberries are composed of about 88% water, making them incredibly hydrating, and they contain only 60 calories per cup. What sets them apart from other fruits is their surprisingly high protein content—dried mulberries consist of nearly 12% protein.

• Iron & Vitamin C: A rare combination in fruit, providing a vital source of energy and immune support.
• Antioxidants: Black and dark purple mulberries are packed with anthocyanins, specifically cyanidin, which gives them their rich pigment.
• Chlorogenic Acid & Rutin: Powerful compounds that help mitigate oxidative stress and assist in managing blood sugar levels.

A Historic Staple

Native American tribes intimately understood the value of the Morus genus. The Comanche actively foraged the sweet fruits, while the Cherokee mixed the ripe berries with cornmeal to create sweet dumplings. The wood of the mulberry tree was prized for crafting hunting bows and woven baskets. Similarly, Mexican and Tejano populations heavily relied on the Texas Mulberry, turning the tart-sweet berries into preserves and traditional fruit wines.

The Urbanization Effect: Why Did the Mulberry Disappear?

If the mulberry is a delicious, highly nutritious, historically significant fruit, why did it vanish?

• Infrastructure Damage: Shallow, fast-growing root systems frequently invaded underground pipes and cracked foundations, earning it a reputation as an undesirable "trash tree."
• The Purple Mess: Ripe mulberries are incredibly fragile and juicy. A mature tree can drop thousands of berries, creating a sticky sludge that stains concrete sidewalks and driveways.
• Allergy Bans: To avoid the fruit, nurseries sold "fruitless" male mulberries, which produced high amounts of allergenic pollen, leading cities to pass strict ordinances banning them.
• The Threat of the Invasive White Mulberry: American colonists imported the Asian White Mulberry (Morus alba) for an unsuccessful silk industry. It naturalized, spreading across the US, outcompeting and actively hybridizing with the pure native Red Mulberry.

Bring Back the Berry in North Texas

As North Texas continues to boom, from the bustling developments in Frisco to the expanding edges of the DFW metroplex, native plant enthusiasts are asking: Can we bring the native mulberry back? The answer is an enthusiastic yes. But before planting, knowing the right natives is critical:

• Red Mulberry (Morus rubra): Found naturally near creeks and woodlands. Features large, fuzzy leaves and incredibly sweet, dark berries.
• Texas Mulberry (Morus microphylla): A smaller shrub/tree that thrives in the drier, rocky limestone soils of the region.
• The Invader to Avoid (Morus alba): A highly aggressive invasive species. Never plant a White Mulberry or fruitless weeping varieties.

The Ecological Payoff

When you plant a native mulberry, you aren't just growing food for yourself; you are planting a biological anchor for the local ecosystem. The sweet berries are a critical food source for spring migratory birds, mockingbirds, and blue jays. Native Red Mulberries also act as a larval host plant for the Mourning Cloak butterfly. By adding these trees back into our suburban landscapes thoughtfully (away from concrete paths!), we actively recreate the vital wildlife corridors that urban sprawl has destroyed.