The Many Gifts of the Mulberry Tree

Different Types of Mulberries & Their Medicinal Uses

Mulberry trees are generous, resilient, and deeply medicinal. They grow quietly along fence lines, in old farmyards, and on forgotten edges of property, often unnoticed until their berries begin to stain the ground a deep purple.

But mulberries are far more than a sweet summer fruit.

Every part of the tree — the berries, leaves, bark, and even the roots — has been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries across cultures. If you have a mulberry tree nearby, you are standing next to a living herbal pharmacy.

Let’s explore the main types of mulberries and what each one offers for wellness.

🌳 The Three Main Types of Mulberries

1. White Mulberry (Morus alba)

Origin: China

Berry color: White, pink, lavender, or deep purple. Most commonly used medicinally

White mulberry was brought to many parts of the world for silkworm production, but herbalists quickly realized the tree itself was incredibly valuable.

Medicinal Uses

Leaves (most prized part):

• Helps regulate blood sugar

• Supports insulin sensitivity

• Used in teas for type 2 diabetes support

• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant

• Supports liver health

Berries:

• High in vitamin C and iron

• Supports the immune system

• Helps build healthy blood

• Gentle laxative for digestion

Root bark:

• Traditionally used for cough, asthma, and lung congestion

• Helps clear heat from the lungs

White mulberry leaf tea is one of the best-kept secrets for blood sugar balance in herbal medicine.

2. Red Mulberry (Morus rubra)

Origin: North America (native species)

Berry color: Deep red to almost black.

This is the wild mulberry often found along roadsides, forest edges, and old homesteads.

Medicinal Uses

Berries:

• Extremely high in antioxidants (anthocyanins)

• Supports heart health

• Improves circulation

• Nourishes the blood

• Helpful for fatigue and anemia

Leaves:

• Mild anti-inflammatory

• Used for tea to support overall wellness

Bark:

• Historically used as a vermifuge (parasite support)

• Supports digestive health

Red mulberries are considered a blood-building and heart-protective fruit in folk herbal traditions.

3. Black Mulberry (Morus nigra)

Origin: Western Asia / Middle East

Berry color: Very dark purple-black

Most medicinally potent berries

Black mulberries are less common in the U.S. but are considered the most medicinal of the three.

Medicinal Uses

Berries:

• Powerful anti-inflammatory

• Supports joint health and arthritis

• Rich in resveratrol and anthocyanins

• Supports brain health and memory

• Helps reduce oxidative stress

Leaves:

• Used similarly to white mulberry for blood sugar

• Supports cardiovascular health

Black mulberries are often used in syrups and tonics for inflammatory conditions.

🍃 Mulberry Leaf Tea — A Homestead Herbal Staple

Mulberry leaf tea can be made from any of the three varieties, but white and black mulberry are most commonly used.

Benefits of Mulberry Leaf Tea

• Balances blood sugar

• Supports metabolism

• Reduces inflammation

• Supports liver detox pathways

• Helps regulate cholesterol

• Gentle daily wellness tonic

How to make:1 tablespoon dried leaves1 cup hot water. Steep 10–15 minutes

Drink daily as a nourishing herbal infusion.

🫐 The Berries as Food Medicine

Fresh, dried, or cooked into syrups, mulberries are:

• Blood nourishing

• Immune supporting

• Heart protective

• Gentle on digestion

• Excellent for children and elders

They can be used much like elderberries, but are far milder and safer for frequent use.

🌿 Root & Bark Uses (Advanced Herbalism)

Traditionally used for:

• Lung congestion

• Coughs and wheezing

• Clearing “heat” from the body

• Digestive parasites

These parts are potent and typically used by experienced herbalists.

Why Mulberry Is a Homesteader’s Dream Tree

• Fast growing

• Drought tolerant

• Feeds people, animals, and wildlife

• Requires almost no care

• Produces medicine for decades

Few trees offer this much nourishment and healing with so little effort.

Final Thoughts

Mulberries remind us that medicine does not always come from rare plants deep in the forest. Sometimes it grows quietly in the yard, dropping fruit on the ground, waiting to be noticed.

If you have a mulberry tree nearby, you have:

• A source of daily herbal tea

• A seasonal superfood

• A heart and blood tonic

• A long-standing ally in natural wellness

Not bad for a tree most people walk past without a second thought.