Leaves are alternate, sometimes nearly decussately opposite, thick herbaceous, ovate to broadly ovate, oblique, coarsely shallow dentate, deep green and scabrous above, pale green and densely soft-pubescent beneath.

Petioles are 2-10 cm long, soft-pubescent, grooved above.

Flowers in May to June in axillary inflorescences on new shoots.

Syncarps ripening red in August to September.

This paper mulberry prefers sunny and fertile sites in the warm-temperate and subtropical zone.

The fibers of the bark are used for paper. The wood is used for boxes.

The tree is planted for ornamental purposes and as a street tree.

Distribution ; Honshu, shokoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu, Formosa, China