You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
Hi, here are pictures taken this past weekend of this tree, if anyone knows what it is, please let me know and thanks! It is tall, big mitten leaves(not many), golden color right now and falling. Some leaves are regular and some are mitten shaped. The bark is grey and white, pretty actually. If you see holes in the leaves, that was hail a couple of weeks ago. Have never seen flowers or fruit on this tree, but it is so tall. Single trunk.
You have one common native mulberry in Texas -- the Red Mulberry (Morus rubra). The leaves are very similar in shape to the non-native White Mulberry (and they can hybridize).
Here's how to check which you have -- rub your finger back and forth across the upper surface on the leaf. White Mulberry is usually smooth and glossy. Red Mulberry feels a little rough, a little scratchy, not glossy. It may be harder to tell with wilting and fallen leaves. Try several and see what you get.
Hi Bryan 3, this tree is the only one we have found on our property, and the leaves are not smooth, they are sort of textured. We have never seen this tree bloom or fruit in 3 years. The bark is gorgeous though, gray and white, very nice to me anyway. So this is an invasive tree? Will we see blooms and fruit?
I was really hoping it was a sassafras, but it does not seem to smell to me anyway right now. Thanks everyone for your ideas, and I hope I can solve it by next spring. Happy gardening!
Mulberries flower in spring, and they're not much to speak of, unless you are allergic to the pollen (as many are), in which case you speak of them in words of four letters. The fruit's pretty variable; on average Morus rubra (the native mulberry) is IMHO better than Morus alba (the invasive import), but for wild trees, it's all down to luck. Birds love them.
Mulberries trees can be male or female (or both, sometimes). If you have a female, you get fruit. If you have a male you won't get fruit and you won't notice the tiny flowers.
Some people like males because a heavy-fruiting female tree can rain the lttle backberry-like purple-staining fruits all over any sidewalks, porches, etc. under the branches. Plus there are birds...and bird droppings...to consider.
I was attempting to find the bark of a paper mulberry, but I give up, Broussetinia? Broussanetia papyferus, forgive spelling, most mulberries do have rough bark, you guys thot mulberry I thot fig til I looked closer, that bark reminds me of a Quercus nigra tho that we have in Hou area. Paper mul has a milky sap too
Thanks everyone for trying to id this tree. I will post again in the spring, watching for flowers or something different to help me id this tree. Thanks and happy gardening!
I have the native rubrus, several female trees and the bark is not like your photo at all, not nearly as pretty. I'll take photos tomorrow for comparison. Also my trees branch sooner vs the long trunk you have before there are branches.
