Invasive in Pennsylvania

Paper Mulberry

Broussonetia papyrifera

Description: Biology and Spread:

Paper mulberry is a small The seeds of paper mulberry with smooth are spread significant bark and hairy, reddish twigs. distances by wildlife that feed The densely gray-pubescent on the fruit. A vigorous leaves, which exude a milky grower, paper mulberry also sap when damaged, are ovate spreads by vegetative or variably lobed. Paper expansion, producing new mulberry is dioecious; male plants by sprouting and and female flowers are suckering from the roots. produced on separate . John Ruter, University of Georgia Males produce catkins while www.forestryimages.org Ecological Threat: females produce ball-shaped flower clusters. The fruits, Native plants are easily out- Background: which appear in summer, are competed and displaced by reddish purple to orange in Paper mulberry was used paper mulberry, which color. aggressively forms dense extensively in the United States as a shade and thickets. This negatively ornamental tree, especially in impacts all wildlife through the Southeast. Since its the loss of appropriate forage, introduction in the early 1900s, nesting and cover. Paper this invasive has mainly mulberry has a very shallow become established in the East. root system, making the tree susceptible to blow-over during high winds. Range:

Native to and , Amy Richard, University of Florida paper mulberry can now be www.forestryimages.org found in over a dozen countries around the world. Habitat: In the United States, it ranges from Pennsylvania south to Paper mulberry grows in open Florida, and west to Oklahoma habitats such as forest and and Louisiana. field edges, taking advantage of disturbed sites. Floodplain forests and river terraces are

especially prone to invasion. Chris Evans, River to River CWMA www.forestryimages.org How to Control this Species: Native Alternatives:

Many native trees with small Manual and Mechanical Chemical growing forms and beautiful Paper mulberry seedlings Apply a 25 percent solution of foliage are wonderful can be easily pulled by hand, glyphosate mixed with water substitutes for paper especially when the soil is to cut stumps or girdle mulberry. These include moist. wounds. sassafras (Sassafras albidum), red maple (Acer rubrum), Trees can be controlled If cutting is not feasible and hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), through cutting and the tree is less than six inches and black gum (Nyssa herbicide applications. in diameter, herbicide may be sylvatica). During the growing season, applied to the lower trunk. trees should be cut near From late winter to late ground level, followed by an summer, a solution of 20 immediate application of percent triclopyr (such as herbicide to the stump in Garlon® 4) mixed in oil may order to destroy the root be applied in a 12-inch band system. around the base of the tree. Foliar applications of 2 percent glyphosate mixed with water Look-A-Likes: may be considered in areas where the risk to non-target Paper mulberry may species is minimal. Blackgum sometimes be confused with exotic white poplar (Populus Chris Evans, River to River CWMA alba), white mulberry ( www.forestryimages.org alba) and native red mulberry References: (Morus rubra), sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health: basswood (Tilia sp.). http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=5208

Sassafras Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/brpa1.htm

USDA Forest Service: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/ invasive_plants//paper-mulberry%202.pdf

For More Information:

DCNR Invasive Species Site: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ Chris Evans, River to River CWMA conservationscience/invasivespecies/index.htm www.forestryimages.org