What do mistletoe look like

Urge Congress to Support It. Learn More. Our beloved wildlife ambassador has been creating lifelong connections with nature for generations. Donate Take Action. Wildlife Facts. Roger Di Silvestro December 17, You would think this would be a losing proposition given that the plant eventually destroys its host, but there actually are people who farm mistletoe commercially.

More often, though, the mistletoe you see at a florist in the winter is wild harvested. For best results, harvest seeds from mistletoe in the early spring, when the fruit is fully ripe. The tree harboring the mistletoe you collect seeds from should be the same species as the one on which you will grow your own. Cut a slit into a tender piece of bark as high in the canopy as you can safely reach, and deposit the seeds there, spacing them a few inches apart.

The more seeds you plant the better, as the germination rate is low. There is no need for water or fertilizer. For protection from birds, tie a strip of burlap over the seeds. Have patience, as it takes at least five years for the plants to mature and produce berries. More stories from Modern Farmer :. Blackcaps are migratory warblers that are becoming regular winter visitors to our bird tables. Berries, including those of mistletoe, are an essential part of their diet. On eating the white flesh of the mistletoe berry, the birds wipe their bills on twigs and branches, leaving behind the seed.

If the seed is deposited on a host tree and manages to take hold, a mistletoe plant might germinate on the branch. It seems that blackcaps are more efficient at spreading mistletoe seeds than other birds, such as the mistle thrush , which also feed on the berries. You should always obtain the landowner's permission before gathering mistletoe from the wild. It is also important not to take too much. Our foraging guidelines offer advice.

The mistletoe marble moth Celypha woodiana needs this unusual plant to complete its life cycle. Its larvae overwinter in small mines chewed into the leaves of the plant, which become inflated by late spring when the larvae are fully grown.

Even if you cut off the visible portion of the invader, new plants often grow from inside the host. The most effective way to fight it is to remove an infected branch or limb entirely. Eating any part of the plant can cause drowsiness, blurred vision, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weakness and seizures.

The symptoms are caused by a poisonous ingredient called phoratoxin, which is found in all parts of the plant, including the berries, and is especially concentrated in the leaves. Eating the plant raw or drinking it in tea can cause poisoning. Despite its dangers, mistletoe has a history of medicinal use.