Mulberry

Overview

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a hard, dense, golden-brown wood that the Wood Database says looks very similar to Osage orange, though significantly lighter. The Wood Database's page covers Morus species generally (white, black and red mulberry), with red mulberry the one native to eastern North America. It is rarely milled commercially because the trees are small and scattered, so it is a local, small-piece wood for turning and small furniture.

Pros

• Very durable with good insect resistance and weathering properties, per the Wood Database.
• Responds well to hand and machine tools; turns, glues and finishes well.
• Golden-brown colour that darkens with age.
• Hard (1,680 lbf) and dense (about 690 kg/m3 dried) yet easy to work.
• Low shrinkage for its density: 3.3% radial, 6.6% tangential.

Cons

• Seldom harvested for lumber, so supply is scattered and mostly local.
• Prices are expected to be high for a domestic hardwood.
• Small trees give small pieces, so wide boards are rare.
• The Wood Database page covers the genus, not red mulberry alone.
• It looks similar to Osage orange.

Variants and subspecies

• Red mulberry (M. rubra) is the native eastern species; the Wood Database page also names M. alba (white mulberry, the silkworm tree) and M. nigra (black mulberry).
• Look-alikes: the Wood Database says it resembles Osage orange (see Osage orange), though lighter, and that mulberry is non-fluorescent under a blacklight while black locust fluoresces (see Black locust).

Working and finishing

The Wood Database says mulberry responds well to both hand and machine tools and turns, glues and finishes well.

Staining and finishing colour

Heartwood is golden brown, darkening to a medium or reddish brown with age, and has good natural lustre. The Wood Database says it finishes well but gives no stain guidance. Test finishes on offcuts.

Sustainability and handling

The Wood Database reports mulberry as not listed in the CITES Appendices (checked 2026-09-30) or on the IUCN Red List; Wikipedia's page for Morus rubra gives Least Concern (2018). US-grown timber is still covered by the Lacey Act, which as amended in 2008 prohibits trade in plants and timber taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of law (Wikipedia's summary of the Act); buy from dealers who can name the source. The Wood Database reports no health effects beyond the standard risks of wood dust. The Wood Database's wood-dust article treats wood dust in general as an irritant or sensitizer and notes that fine dust can cause cumulative lung damage, so extract at the source and wear a respirator when sanding or machining.

Popular projects

Fence posts, furniture and turned objects, per the Wood Database.

Buying notes

Seldom harvested commercially for lumber; smaller pieces are sometimes available locally within the tree's natural range. No retail list price was found; the Wood Database expects prices to be high for a domestic hardwood. Confirm the identification, since mulberry resembles Osage orange.