White Mulberry
Morus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a uniform medium-to-coarse texture; often shows a distinct ring-porous cathedral pattern on flat-sawn surfaces.
Color Description
Freshly cut heartwood is golden yellow, darkening to a medium reddish-brown with age; sapwood is pale yellowish-white. It possesses a high natural luster.
Hardness Rating
1,170 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay, comparable to Osage Orange or Black Locust.
Common Uses
Furniture, boat building, fence posts, woodturning (bowls), cabinetry, and occasionally for traditional archery bows.
Geographic Origin
Native to Central and Eastern China; widely naturalized throughout North America, Europe, and India.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot (primarily sold as turning blanks or through specialty sawmills).
Wood Age Estimate
Identifying from a living branch: Current growth represents a young sapling or recent season's growth, while the parent tree appears mature.
Sustainability Status
Not listed on CITES or IUCN Red List; considered invasive in many parts of North America but widely available and sustainable to harvest.
Workability
Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though its medium-coarse texture may require careful sanding; glues and finishes well.
Notable Features
Often confused with Osage Orange but lacks the intense density; sap is milky white (latex) when cut; high UV sensitivity causes rapid color change.
Finish Recommendations
Clear oils (Tung or Danish) enhance the golden color; UV-inhibiting polyurethane is recommended to slow the transition to deep brown.
Identification Confidence
High; identification based on the characteristic alternate, ovate, serrated leaves with heterophylly (lobed and unlobed) and distinct glossy upper surface.