Red Mulberry

Another sign of summer is the fruiting of the mulberry tree. Sought after by humans and birds alike. The red mulberry was important to Native Tribes, who made clothing from its bark and boiled its berries. Today the red mulberry's wood is used for smokin and its fruit is eaten raw, baked, or fermented for wines. An extremely hardy plant the red mulberry can survive up to subzero temperatures, drought conditions, pollution, and even poor soil. Red mulberries are the host plant of the mourning cloak butterfly.