East Asian tree with rough mulberry-like leaves and orange-red fruit, grown for the inner bark, which is processed into the finest traditional Asian and Pacific papers (washi) and into Polynesian tapa barkcloth.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 6–10 | −23.3 °C to 4.4 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H5 | −15 °C to −10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 7–9 | −12 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–7 | −10 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Inner bark fibre stripped from young one-year stems, beaten into thin papery sheets — the basis of Japanese washi paper (kozo), Korean hanji, Chinese xuan paper, and Polynesian tapa / kapa / siapo barkcloth
- WARNING: Listed INVASIVE across much of the southeastern United States, parts of Africa, and Pakistan — root suckers spread aggressively from disturbed ground, do not plant where unwanted suckering cannot be tolerated
- Distinct from the edible mulberries Morus alba and M. nigra (already in the database) — the fruit of paper mulberry is technically edible but rarely eaten
- Fast growing — coppiced annually for best fibre quality
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Paper mulberry against your zones