Leaf
Arn, Wikimedia · CC BY 4.0
Paper mulberry
Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.
Family: Moraceae
10 to 15 m tall
Planted in the south of France, also found self-sown in towns on poor soils
Flowering: April – May
Full sun
Hardy to about -15°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its fibrous bark has been the raw material of traditional Japanese washi paper and Polynesian tapa for centuries.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, large, often irregularly lobed, rough to the touch, dull green
🌸 Flowers
Pendent male catkins, rounded female inflorescences, on separate plants
🍎 Fruits
On female plants, round orange-red fruits clustered together, edible but not very palatable
🪵 Bark
Grey, smooth, very fibrous
🗺️ Distribution
Native to East Asia, introduced to Europe and naturalised around the Mediterranean
🐝 Value for pollinators
Low interest, partly wind-pollinated
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted for its broad foliage and fast growth; its fibrous bark is traditionally used to make washi paper in Japan
🌿 Other Moraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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