Wow, I would never have guessed something like that to be so invasive around here. Thanks.

Thanks esh_ga. That seems like it. But I have certainly never seen any flowers on either the small one or the large one, let alone purple flowers. The flowers must come and go really fast, or maybe the plants aren't healthy.

I've looked at all the pictures and read about the mulberry tree and it is just not this tree. I have two of them only because I rooted a cutting a few years ago. They have never had any blossoms or berries at all. So of course no weedy volunteers coming up anywhere. The leaves can be taken for about the same shape but not all all the same when put together. My leaves are very large (8-10 inches long)and have very deep cuts in them. I have even taken pictures of this leaf and tree and asked the botanical garden in san francisco and they haven't been able to id either. Any help would be appreciated.

Linda, thanks for the information and the photo. I love the unusual leaves and the white knotty stems. The flowers are a plus. I planted my little bush the day after buying it. All the sites said good drainage is key. I dug a large hole about a foot deeper than it needed to be (took out large rocks -- that workout was good for a couple less pounds on this body -- whew!) and filled the bottom foot with gravely soil to make sure it drained well even though I had filled the hole with water and it drained in 45 minutes. According to the internet a very fast draining hole is 12 inch deep and wide which drains in 3 to 5 hours! So here's hoping it makes it through the winter. If it doesn't -- it doesn't. Any predictions yet of what to expect this coming winter? This post was edited by roselee on Fri, Sep 26, 14 at 20:56