This dioecious root-suckering tree is widely planted across southeastern states and it often escapes, especially in warm regions on moist fertile soils (K, W). Although "paper mulberry" has traditional economic uses in East Asia, especially for its fiber, the species is generally considered a weed in North America. Its reddish, somewhat edible fruits are often overlooked, and there are few colls. in herbaria. There appears to be little establishment from seed, but trees persist through vigorous suckers, sometimes spreading from the original stump. Although its pollen is considered a serious allergen in subtropical regions of East Asia (Abbas et al. 2009, Wu et al. 2019), where the species is locally abundant, such effects have not been reported in North America.