Broad-crowned tree to about 10 m or so tall. Leaves broadly ovate, occasionally lobed, mostly 15-20 cm long, 10-15 cm wide, tip shortly pointed, rough above, the base deeply heart-shaped and margin with large, blunt teeth; hairy below. Leaf stalk to 3 cm long. Male flowers in green catkins appearing with the leaves; female flowers shorter. Fruits raspberry-like, changing from red to purplish black, edible; early summer.

Middle East

The major source of edible mulberry fruit.

SA: Kangaroo Island (planted 1836 at Reeves St, Kingscote. The oldest planted tree in South Australia, the berries still sold to tourists as jam and preserves by Lions Club Ladies. Brought from England on the ship Duke of York). ACT: Ainslie (Gillen St). NSW: Sofala, N of Bathurst (main street garden). VIC: Avenel (Mitchell St, the largest known specimen of the species in the state planted c. 1854. 9.6 × 16 m (1987)); Broadmeadows (Camp Road, W end of army camp, old cemetery site); Mossmont (Old 'Mossmont' nursery site near Ballarat, presumed over 100 years old in 1990). TAS: Hobart (Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Moraceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.