Horticulture December 2022 Newsletter
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American Mistletoe - A Holiday Plant Enjoyed by Pollinators and Wildlife
It's hard to miss the basketball-sized clusters of green leaves decoration the bare upper branches of trees as they reach up to the winter sky. Those basketball-sized clusters of leaves are most often mistletoes. There are several different species of mistletoe in North American, and even more in other parts of the world. Some prefer conifers. Others prefer deciduous hardwoods. Probably the most common species that prefer hardwoods in the eastern half of the U.S. is the American mistletoe, also known as the oak mistletoe. This is the species I'm most familiar with and that decorates the trees on our farm and in the surrounding region.
General Biology and Life History
Pollinator and Wildlife Uses
Human Uses of Mistletoe
American mistletoe is an interesting, native plant with a fascinating life history. It is a valuable part of our ecosystem and provides shelter for nesting birds and tree-dwelling mammals. In addition, it is a valuable food source for many of our pollinators, songbirds, and the caterpillar of the great purple hairstreak. American mistletoe also plays a role in our holiday traditions. Although it isn't a species that we might plant in our yards, it is still a fun one to enjoy when it shows up.
