November 28, 2025 – Mistletoe has long been associated with the Christmas holidays, and the idea of kissing under the mistletoe is a favorite of many people, both young and old. Mistletoe has historically represented romance, vitality, and fertility. The ancient Greeks’ winter holiday Kronia used mistletoe as part of the celebrations, and the tradition of “kissing under the mistletoe” may have started there. How this idea started (and continues!), is a mystery, since mistletoe’s life cycle and history seems a bit less than romantic…….
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that takes water and nutrients from the host plant. The name comes from 2 Anglo-Saxon words—“mistel”, meaning “dung”, and “tan”, meaning “twig”. This combination of words refers to the plant spreading its seeds by bird or squirrel droppings. The scientific genus of mistletoe is Phoradendron, meaning “thief of the tree”.
Generally, mistletoe does not harm healthy trees, but is more often found on older, declining, and sparsely leafed trees. Strong trees have a dense canopy that helps shade mistletoe out and preventing it from taking hold, while the bark of a vigorous tree can grow more quickly than the roots of the mistletoe, preventing them from reaching the tree’s nutrients.
Mistletoe is evergreen and keeps its leaves year round, and is more easily seen in fall and winter when the host tree loses its leaves. Mistletoe produces its greenish-white berries from October to December. These berries are quite sticky, and attach themselves to the bark of the host tree until conditions are right for germination. After germinating, the seeds send roots into and through the bark, seeking nutrients in the tree branch.
The berries are poisonous, and should be kept away from children and pets. Wash hands with soap after handling the plant. If taken indoors, keep mistletoe away from heat, as it will dry out and become a fire hazard.
Control of mistletoe is difficult. Removing entire limbs infested with mistletoe can be more harmful than useful to the tree. Removing the clumps is a stopgap remedy, as the mistletoe will re-grow, but it does remove a source of future seeds. It can be treated/sprayed with a plant growth regulator, but this procedure should be done by a licensed pest control operator. This may involve a high cost, especially for an older, weak tree.
A parasite with poison berries, spread by animal dung! Makes one feel romantic, doesn’t it??
