A mulberry is a small, sweet berry that grows on mulberry trees. These berries look similar to blackberries but grow in clusters directly on the tree's branches. Fresh mulberries are soft and juicy, with a mild, slightly tart sweetness that makes them perfect for eating right off the tree, baking into pies, or making into jam.

Mulberry trees have played a surprising role in human history. For thousands of years, people in China and other parts of Asia raised silkworms on mulberry leaves because silkworms eat almost nothing else. This connection between mulberries and silk production was so valuable that the trees spread across Europe and eventually to America, where colonists hoped to start their own silk industries.

The trees themselves grow fast and can live for hundreds of years. Their berries ripen in early summer, turning from white or green to deep purple or red, depending on the variety. When ripe, they fall easily from the branches, often staining sidewalks and driveways purple, which frustrates some homeowners but delights children who discover them. Many cultures around the world have valued mulberries not just for their fruit but also for their shade, their wood, and, of course, their leaves that feed those hungry silkworms.