The parasitic behavior of mistletoe is pretty straight forward, but setting up shop on the tree in the first place is a challenge. To get this done, the mistletoe relies on 90 species of birds ...

T he history of mistletoe is the stuff of lore, but growing this wild parasitic plant is less mysterious than you may think. Start now, and you'll have crops for future festive holidays.

He has since tracked mistletoe across the globe, and co-wrote a paper in the 2022 issue of Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics about the role of parasitic plants in a warming world.

A parasitic plant with potentially poisonous berries might not sound like something that would boost your Christmas ...

Mistletoe has been a problem for some homeowners who worry about the parasite destroying their trees. Fortunately, the parasitic plant causes little damage to the growth and development of our trees.

That's because despite its Christmas reputation, mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant to over 1,300 tree species across the word. That includes 30 in North America, including oak, sugarberry ...

Mistletoe is more than just a Yuletide kissing attraction; it plays a hugely important role in ecosystems. It is a parasitic plant — it takes water and nutrients from a host plant to survive ...

But why is it a tradition to kiss underneath mistletoe? The plant, which is actually a parasite, has been used as a symbol of fertility for centuries, even dating back as far as the Celtic Druids ...

Mistletoe is a plant that often plays a role in Christmas decorations, but in nature, it’s a type of parasitic shrub. Mistletoe survives by digging its roots into a tree and siphoning nutrients ...

Mistletoe may be a welcome holiday sight when hung over a doorway if a loved one is near, but it can be an unwelcome intruder when found in your trees, Mistletoe: Is the Christmas plant friend or foe?

Mistletoe in fact, is a parasitic plant that infects many tree species worldwide. Mistletoe grows mainly in hardwoods and is easily found on oaks and maples throughout Rowan County after fall leaf ...