Broussonetia papyrifera, is a species of flowering tree in the Moraceae (Mulberry) family. It is native to East and Southeast Asia: including China, India, Japan, Korea, Myanmar and Taiwan. It is widely cultivated in USA, Africa, some parts of the Europe and Pakistan. Inner bark of the tree, traditionally processed into barkcloth and is also an important raw material in paper making. Genus name honours Pierre M. Broussonet (French physician, naturalist and professor of botany). Specific epithet comes from the Egyptian word papyrus meaning paper and the Latin word ferre meaning to bear in reference to the use of tree bark to make paper. Common name Paper Mulberry comes from long-time use of the tree bark in eastern Asia to make paper and from the use of inner tree bark in Polynesia to make barkcloth (Tapa cloth).

Paper Mulberry Tree is a fast growing, deciduous and dioecious plant (with male and female individuals), usually growing 10–20 m tall but known to reach 35 m at times. Young twigs are downy reddish-brown. Bark gray, smooth, often developing lattice striations with age. Trees have a milky sap. Leaves are spirally arranged, up to 15 cm long, broadly ovate to narrowly elliptic-ovate, show polymorphism; they may be simple or with 3–5 lobes. Pale green flowers bloom in April and May (male in pendulous catkins to 3-8 cm long and female in rounded flower heads). If pollinated, flowers on female trees give way to reddish purple to orange aggregate fruits 1.5-3 cm in diameter.

Broussonetia papyrifera easily grown in fertile, well-drained soils in full sun, also tolerates light shade. Plant tolerates heat, humidity, drought and urban pollution. This is a weedy, fast-growing tree that spreads, often aggressively, by root suckers and self-seeding. If left unmanaged can dominate a site with displacing native plants through competition and shading. Its shallow root system makes it susceptible to blowing over during high winds, posing a hazard to people and causing slope erosion and further degradation of an area. The tree is regarded as invasive in many countries. The European Union has included it in the list of invasive alien species of Union concern and hence it cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in any of its member states. The pollen is allergenic. It can withstand temperatures down to -10°C. Propagation is done by seed, cuttings or root suckers.

Paper Mulberry Tree has economic, medicinal and environmental values. Its bark fibres can be utilized to produce paper, cloth and rope, and the wood can be used for furniture, leaves are edible, use as animal fodder. The leaves were used to feed silkworm caterpillars when trees were harvested for paper making. The leaves, fruit, and bark can be used in medicines as: astringent, diuretic, tonic, vulnerary, laxative and antipyretic. The famous Japanese paper lanterns were traditionally made from the fibres of this tree.

Use in Landscape: Broussonetia papyrifera is used as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens. It tolerates disturbance and air pollution, so it is useful as a landscaping plant on roadsides and in urban settings. Paper mulberry is frequently planted as a shade tree. It is a pioneer species that easily fills forest clearings, and it has been considered for reforestation efforts. It’s a good windbreak tree. Male trees can be effective shade or street trees because they will not spread by self-seeding or drop messy fruit.