Mulberry wood comes from several species within the Morus genus, including white mulberry, black mulberry, and red mulberry. Red mulberry is native to eastern North America, while other species are found across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Although better known historically for their fruit and for silk production, mulberry trees also yield a durable and visually distinctive timber.

The heartwood is a rich golden brown that gradually deepens to a warmer reddish brown with age, while the sapwood is pale yellowish white. In appearance, mulberry closely resembles osage orange, though it is lighter in weight and slightly less dense. The grain is generally straight with a uniform medium texture and a natural lustre that responds well to polishing and finishing.

Mulberry is naturally durable and offers strong resistance to decay, insects, and weathering. This made it well suited historically for outdoor uses such as fence posts, while its stability and workability also lent it to furniture making and turning. The wood works well with both hand and machine tools and finishes cleanly, producing a smooth surface with good colour depth.

Due to the relatively small size of mulberry trees and their scattered distribution, the wood has rarely been harvested on a commercial scale. As a result, it is most commonly encountered in smaller sections and specialist items rather than large furniture components. Mulberry has long been valued for its reliability, attractive ageing qualities, and versatility in finely made wooden objects.