Morus rubra aka Red Mulberry

Morus rubra, commonly known as the red mulberry, is a species of mulberry native to eastern and central North America, found from Ontario, Minnesota, and Vermont south to southern Florida, and west as far as southeastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and central Texas. Common in the United States, it is listed as an endangered species in Canada, and is susceptible to hybridization with the invasive white mulberry (M. alba), introduced from Asia. It is a native woodland tree often growing 40 to 60 feet tall, with dark green leaves that turn a golden yellow and late into autumn. The deep purple fruits of the female tree are sweet and relished by wildlife but can be quite messy. Morus rubra 'Townsend' is more cold hardy than black mulberry and can have both edible and ornamental features, however fruit dropping on vehicles and driveways can stain and be messy. This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research.