Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas

Swearingen, J., K. Reshetiloff, B. Slattery, and S. Zwicker. 2002. Plant Invaders of
Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas. National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 82 pp.

Britt Slattery, USFWS

White mulberry, a native of eastern Asia, was introduced during colonial times in an effort to establish a silkworm industry in the United States. It occurs throughout the country with the exception of Arizona and Nevada. The ecological threats posed by white mulberry include its hybridization with and replacement of our native red mulberry (Morus rubra), the transmittal of a harmful root disease to red mulberry, and its ability to invade natural areas including fields, forest edges and roadsides.

Prevention and Control
Seedlings can be pulled. Otherwise, cut the tree and grind the stump or cut and paint the stump with glyphosate; if very large, girdle the tree.

Native Alternatives
red maple (Acer rubrum), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

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