# Et tu, Johnny Appleseed? -or- Should this Tree Be Spared? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963 "2013-06-14T03:02:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/1 "2013-06-14T03:02:09Z")
Found [this sapling/young tree](https://picasaweb.google.com/CoolMotet/Leaves?authkey=Gv1sRgCMaq_eWRm4zEUg) growing in a spot close to our fence (in the nether regions of Chicago–trust me). Tried to identify it via various web searches, but I can’t seem to find a site that will ID based on a tree whose leaves appear to be both lobed and unlobed. Interested in knowing if this tree has any landscaping value. Can it be dug up and replanted in a more spacious area, or is it best to destroy it? I suspect that it’s current home next to the fence is neither good for the tree nor the fence. Might it be considered nuisance tree, or will it grow to be a magnificent cash cow that my children’s children’s children will someday have fashioned into armoires and canes and fretboards for expensive musical instruments? Or none of the above? I suppose a simple ID will suffice and I can figure out all that other stuff for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/2 "2013-06-14T03:10:30Z")
Of course, as soon as I hit “post” I find a site that’s making this look an awful lot like a red mulberry, but that still leaves (ha!) a lot of those other questions open. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/3 "2013-06-14T03:58:14Z")
I can’t tell from the photos you posted…does it have any thorns? If so, it could be [hawthorn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_hawthorn). ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/4 "2013-06-14T04:01:52Z")
Pretty sure there are no thorns. At least not at this stage. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/5 "2013-06-14T06:06:51Z")
I got Red Mulberry using a few different keys. Grows to 60’, 2’ DBH; might want to move it away from the fence. The Audubon Society Field Guide says that it is often seen with leaves of “two to three lobes on young twigs” ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/6 "2013-06-14T09:18:34Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > I got Red Mulberry using a few different keys. Grows to 60’, 2’ DBH; might want to move it away from the fence. The Audubon Society Field Guide says that it is often seen with leaves of “two to three lobes on young twigs” Certainly looks like the same family as the common poplar…(which does include Mulberry ) Try populus alba. [http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/popalb01.htm](http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/popalb01.htm) specifically, both lobed and unlobed… ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/7 "2013-06-14T12:06:24Z")
Sure does look like a mulberry. Yank that sucker now. They do indeed get huge and tear up fences, but even worse (arguably), eventually it will start dropping huge, dark, juicy, staining berries all over your yard, your neighbor’s yard, the sidewalk, the roof, cars in a surprisingly large radius… It will bring all the squirrels and rats to your yard. Mulberries are great. Yay mulberry mead! But they’re great in the middle of a very large grassy lawn that no one wants to walk or picnic on. They’re a nuisance on a city walk and will eventually make your neighbors hate you. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/8 "2013-06-14T13:53:10Z")
It could be worse: My mom has a mulberry tree right over her driveway. It’s a great climbing tree, and the berries are fun to eat, but starting in about a week we’re going to need to hose off the driveway every day. The berries themselves aren’t even the worst of it. The purple pigeon poop is far worse. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/9 "2013-06-14T14:48:58Z")
Thanks all. Out it comes. I very much would like to avoid the flying purple pigeon poop. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/10 "2013-06-15T02:33:33Z")
> [@Simmerdown](#): > > Thanks all. Out it comes. I very much would like to avoid the flying purple pigeon poop. First thread winner of the Post-Crisis SDMB universe? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/11 "2013-06-15T03:14:22Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > First thread winner of the Post-Crisis SDMB universe? Band name. And, more than enough reason to mulch that sucker. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/12 "2013-06-15T09:00:13Z")
If you’re lucky, it will be a black mulberry - they’re the ones with the best fruit. Leaves look consistent with mulberry of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/et-tu-johnny-appleseed-or-should-this-tree-be-spared/660963/13 "2013-06-15T10:45:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It could be worse: My mom has a mulberry tree right over her driveway. It’s a great climbing tree, and the berries are fun to eat, but starting in about a week we’re going to need to hose off the driveway every day. > > The berries themselves aren’t even the worst of it. The purple pigeon poop is far worse. There is ripe fruit for at least a month too. Always rip them out, if anywhere near your buildings. The juice will stain your building paint.