Is Mulberry Good Firewood?

Though it is a short-lived tree, mulberry (Morus alba) grows very fast and has a whole range of uses. For example, the leaves from a mulberry tree are great food for silkworms, encouraging their silk production. But in the US, mulberry trees are mostly used as ornamental trees.

But is it worth sourcing a mulberry for firewood? Or is it best left to look pretty?

Mulberry is a very effective and efficient firewood. It is ranked by many as one of the top 5 firewoods, generating an astounding 25.8 BTUs that can last for hours on end. So long as you take time to season the wood properly, you can expect a great fire from mulberry. 

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What Are The Varieties Of Mulberry

There are three varieties of mulberry that can be used as firewood in various parts of North America:

  • Red mulberry – mostly found in the eastern regions of the US, red mulberry is common in the US but is considered an endangered species in other parts of the world. It is useful for smoking meats
  • White mulberry – the most common species of mulberry in America, white mulberry is also known as silkworm mulberry.
  • Black mulberry – the least common mulberry to be found in the US, black mulberry is mostly found in the south of the US. It is amongst one of the slowest growing mulberry species but lives the longest.

What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Mulberry

NameMulberry
Heat per cord (Million BTUs)25.8
Weight dry (lbs per cord) 
Weight green (lbs per cord)4712
Seasoning time1 – 2 years
Resin / Sap contentLittle
Splitting DifficultyEasy (though chips a lot)
SmokeLittle
SmellSweet, slightly smoky
Coal ProductionVery good
Creosote Build-upLittle

Does its Wood Split Easily?

While it is easy enough to split while still wet, you will want to wait until mulberry is dry and seasoned to split it.

The wood of mulberry is extremely brittle, breaking and chipping off during the splitting process. However, seasoned wood allows its fibers to become more resilient, resulting in less chipping.

How Much Sap Does It Have?

Mulberry trees are odd when it comes to their sap production. It is not a wood that generates much sap, but the sap that it does create is very high in sugar, similar to maple logs.

If you are harvesting mulberry trees and find one to be leaking an excessive amount of sap, don’t use it for firewood. The chances are that the wood is infected and will smell awful when burnt.

How Does The Wood Smell?  

The high sugar content of mulberry’s minimal sap gives the wood a naturally sweet smell.

Though it is not as powerful a fragrance as that produced by hard maple which also has high sugar content. It is still an enticing scent either way.   

Heat Output And Efficiency Of Mulberry

According to the Utah State University Forestry Extension, mulberry wood is one of the top 5 ranking woods when it comes to its heat generation, tough here is a more detailed BTU table of more than 160 tree species.

With an excellent BTU of 25.8, mulberry can create enough heat to warm your home on any winter day. This figure is standard amongst all mulberry species but may vary slightly depending on location and how well the wood is seasoned. 

Fire Characteristics Of Mulberry

Not only does mulberry produce excellent heat, but it also burns very hot for a long time. You will be able to heat your whole house on a winter’s night with just a handful of logs. This is partly due to the high-quality coals that the wood produces.

The coals are hot enough to not only make a mulberry fire last longer but help start another fire once the fire goes out.

Low levels of sap within mulberry means that the wood will produce a minimal amount of smoke throughout its burning time. As such, you can expect little creosote production from mulberry.

However, this will not be the cause unless you properly season mulberry. When alive, it has a very high moisture content. You will need to ensure that it is entirely dry before burning mulberry wood, otherwise, it will produce large amounts of smoke

Is It Okay To Burn Mulberry In A Fireplace?

The only real issue you may have when burning mulberry in a fireplace it’s the number of sparks it can produce. But a fire screen (similar to these) can help prevent any damage as a result of the sparks.

Other than that, mulberry is the perfect wood to burn in a fireplace. It creates a very pleasant scent and will not smoke a lot. Once properly protected, the sparks and scent will create a cozy ambiance in your home.

How Long To Season Mulberry?

It is the high levels of moisture that mulberry harbors that means the wood should be seasoned for at least a year. Though 2 years or longer is ideal.

You can tell when mulberry is ready to burn as its color would have significantly faded.

However, considering how much smoke an unseasoned mulberry can produce, it is better to use a moisture meter instead of solely relying on the wood’s color change to tell when it is ready to burn.

Pros And Cons of Mulberry Wood

Pros:

  • Extremely efficient heat output
  • Minimal smoke
  • Very pleasant smell
  • Little creosote production
  • High-quality coals

Cons:

  • Lots of sparks
  • Long seasoning time
  • Will smoke terribly if not seasoned

How Does Mulberry Compare To Other Firewood?

Mulberry burns hotter than ash and hard maple. It is also denser than other hardwoods so will burn for longer at a higher heat.

It takes just as long to the season as walnut but has a lower sap content. The coals that mulberry produces are also comparable to that of maple, though tend to benefit a mulberry fire more.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I Use Mulberry In A Log Burner?

Absolutely! Mulberry’s long-lasting heat is perfect for a log burner, and the door will act as extra protection against the fire’s sparks.

Which Mulberry Should I Use For Smoking?

Though every mulberry variety has a naturally sweet, smoky taste, red mulberry is the favored smoking firewood.

Is Mulberry Rot Resistant?

Unless stored properly while seasoning, mulberry will rot. However, it can stand a few rain showers now and then so long as it has plenty of time to dry out after.

Conclusion

To conclude, mulberry should be your firewood of choice if you can get your hands on it. Its excellent heat production and long-lasting flames make for the perfect heat source to last you through a cold winter night.

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