Our beloved wildlife ambassador has been creating lifelong connections with nature for generations. Donate Take Action. Wildlife Facts. Roger Di Silvestro December 17, Wildlife Facts birds , Christmas , nature , wildlife. Written by Roger Di Silvestro. Recent Popular. Conservation , People and Wildlife. Mistletoe is a familiar Christmas staple, soaked in folklore and midwinter tradition. But where does it grow and how can you find it in the wild? Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with distinctive forked branches and pairs of symmetrical evergreen leaves.
In winter it produces clusters of pearlescent white berries which are favourites with hungry birds such as thrushes. The plant is 'hemiparasitic', which means it takes some of its food from another plant.
It grows on the branches of trees, pulling water and nutrients from its host, while its green leaves also photosynthesise. There are more than species of mistletoe around the world. The only species native to the UK is European mistletoe Viscum album which has the widest host range of all its relatives. Mistletoe is easy to spot in winter when host trees have lost their leaves. Mistletoe grows in the branches of trees such as hawthorn , poplar and lime , although in the UK the most common hosts are cultivated apple trees.
Despite growing on trees, mistletoe is not generally found in a woodland setting, preferring hosts in open situations with plenty of light. This means that mistletoe would have been less abundant in ancient times when woodland was more typical. It was once thought that this clustering was due to the number of apple orchards in these regions, but this has been proved incorrect as orchards are found in locations where mistletoe is absent. Mistletoe is widely scattered elsewhere in England and Wales, but is rarely seen in eastern and northern England and Scotland.
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that lives off the nutrients and water from a host tree. Although it is parasitic, it will not kill the host tree but can weaken it.
The berries are often spread by birds from one tree to another, and this is how the large rounded clumps of mistletoe form in tree branches. The most common host tree in the UK is apple, but poplar and lime are also frequent hosts. It is mainly found in the south and west midlands in the UK, with particularly large populations in Herefordshire. Mistletoe is a popular Christmas plant and decoration. Most mistletoe on sale comes either from the UK or elsewhere in Europe.
Look for plants that are freshly gathered if necessary, ask when it was harvested , with fresh green foliage and ripe white berries that are plump and not withered. Mistletoe will keep for two to three weeks after gathering if it is kept in a cool place such as a shed or garage. If your propagated mistletoe produces flowers but no berries, it means it is most likely a male plant. Where this appears to be the case, try inserting some more seeds on the branches to see if you can even out the balance between male and female plants.
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