A mystery to us. Mulberry? Toxic? Just a stick with nice to look at leaves? The leaf will remain consistent in form until it about 3′ stem to tip and then it will form a distinct 3-lobs rounded slightly at the tips and somewhat fuzzy in appearance. The trunks/stems are coming from a cut stump 3.5″ in caliper.
Hi Dean,
you are correct, it is a mulberry, but it is a paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera. It is harmless, and if you have a fertile tree, the orange fruits are edible. Sometimes good, sometimes there is not much to them.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS