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Check these first
- Examine the fruit for abnormal swelling.
- Look for spots on the leaves during wet weather.
- Check if the spots are spreading to new growth.
Likely causes
Popcorn disease
Most likelyHow to tell: This fungus causes the fruit to swell into white, popcorn shaped masses. It is most common in wet, cool springs.
What to do: Remove and destroy all infected fruit as soon as you see it to prevent spores from spreading. Keep the area under the tree clean by raking up fallen debris.
Leaf spot fungus
PossibleHow to tell: Small brown or black spots appear on the leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo. These spots may grow and cause the leaf to drop prematurely.
What to do: Prune away heavily infected branches to improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering, which keeps leaves wet and encourages fungal growth.
Find out what's wrong with your white mulberry
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the tree loses a large portion of its leaves before autumn, it is a problem. A few spots here and there are common and usually not a threat to the tree.
Stopping it coming back
Prune your tree annually to keep the canopy open and dry. Always clean up fallen leaves and fruit at the end of the season.
White mulberry: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your white mulberry and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
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Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Is popcorn disease dangerous?
- It ruins the fruit crop for the season, but it rarely kills the tree. Focus on sanitation to reduce the fungus for next year.
- Should I use a fungicide?
- Fungicides are rarely necessary for home trees. Good hygiene and pruning are much more effective and safer for the environment.
Guides to these causes
More problems with White mulberry
- Why does my White mulberry have pests?
- Why are my White mulberry's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my white mulberry leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my white mulberry tree drooping?
- Why is my white mulberry losing its leaves?
- Why is my white mulberry showing signs of root rot?
- Why are my white mulberry leaves curling?
Back to the White mulberry guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.