Those juicy mulberries are truly delicious!  Want to know how mythology said those berries got the color red?  Keep in mind that Greek mythology does have a tendency to incorporate tragedy into the storyline.  The story of Pyramus and Thisbe is no different.  They were two young lovers in Babylon whose families did not approve of their relationship, similar to the Romeo and Juliet tragedy that came out centuries later.  The two agreed to meet for a date under the mulberry tree.  However, through a series of circumstances, Pyramus thought Thisbe had been killed by a lion.  So, out of grief, he killed himself.  Thisbe came across Pyramus’s body and used his sword to join him in Elysium, i.e. heaven.  The myth goes on to say that the white berry of the tree was now forever stained red with the blood of the two lovers. While the mulberry in the story of Pyramus and Thisbe is believed to be a black mulberry (Moria migra)¹, black or red, those berries are still absolutely yummy! 

So, let’s move on to talk about the red mulberry tree.  The red mulberry tree is native to the eastern United States² including Missouri³ and Eastern Kansas⁴.  “Morus” is the Latin word for the tree that evolved into the British word “mulberry”⁵.  “Rubra” is a reference to the red color of berries the tree produces.  

As you can imagine the fruit of the tree was a valuable source for both Native Americans and pioneers.  The fruit was eaten raw, used in baked foods, dried for preserves for winter.  Native Americans used the fruit and bark for medicinal purposes especially for digestive conditions.^{6 7}  The berries can be used for purple dyes.⁸  The wood of the tree is strong and has been used for certain tools and furniture⁹.  The wood of red mulberry tree can also be used to smoke meat.

The red mulberry can be planted in an urban landscape but be aware of the downside of the tree.  A mature tree will produce, and drop, a lot of colorful berries.  So, it may not be a tree you would want next to your patio, driveway, sidewalks, and pool because these berries do have tendency to stain any surface they land on.  The tree will flower in April–May and produce fruit from June–August.¹⁰  Since mulberries prefer rich, moist, well-drained soils, a young tree may need a good amount of watering to get its root system established.  The mature tree, however, can withstand some drought.¹¹  Like all fruit bearing trees, hot and dry conditions may cause the tree to drop its fruit before it is ripe. The mulberry tree is also thought to produce a greater amount of allergens, so people prone to allergies or with asthma could be impacted¹².  The mulberry is a tree you will find in parks because it provides food for a diverse eco-system of birds, pollinators, and small animals.  It is also quite attractive and easy to grow and maintain.