Red Mulberry Odd Fruit: Wild Type or Mite Damage

Evaluating the Fruit

Midwest red mulberry with normal fruit plus fat, lumpy, unripening fruit—two possibilities:

1. Wild/seedling tree: Naturally produces variable, often non-ripening fruit. Common in native mulberries.
2. Cultivated variety + mites: Eriophyid mites distort fruit.

How to Tell

• If tree was there when you moved in → likely wild type.
• If planted as named cultivar → check for mites (microscope needed).

Management Reality

If wild: no treatment needed—squirrels love them. If cultivated with mites: limited options for edible fruit. Mites don't kill tree.

Enjoy the shade; weird fruit is normal for seedling mulberries.