Morus nigra, the black mulberry, is a widely grown species of fruiting tree in the family Moraceae. Native to southwestern Asia, it has been cultivated for so long that its precise natural range is unknown. It can be eaten fresh or made into tasty preserves. Its seeds are spread by birds, resulting in it being widely naturalized in the wild. The fruits turn from red to a deep purple-black when ripe. The related white mulberry, Morus alba, is the sole native food of the silkworm moth caterpillar. Photo of a wild tree in Dallas, TX.