Mistletoe has a long-standing tradition during the holiday season. We hear about it in songs and see it at parties. Some may run under the mistletoe for a kiss, while others run from it. Other ...

The 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. For ...

Like American mistletoe, the entire European mistletoe plant is toxic, though the berries have very low amounts of toxin. European mistletoe contains viscotoxins, which prevent new cells from forming.

Kissing under the mistletoe is a tradition on Christmas, but the plant is also an invasive species that can kill trees and shrubs. It can also be harmful to humans, depending on the type of ...

What’s more, mistletoe have learned how to work together to get the most out of a host, like squeezing the last bit of toothpaste from the tube. In a coinfection, if more than one mistletoe plant ...

Mistletoe is the Christmas tradition people are showing no signs of kissing goodbye to, but while the plant is curiously synonymous with this most magical time of the year, very few people likely ...

If this all makes mistletoe sound like a common plant criminal, keep reading. There is a positive ecological side of this parasite. When a plant prepares to go dormant for the winter season, ...

Try to keep mistletoe plants out of the reach of small children and pets. If a child or pet consumes it, it's best to check with poison control (800-222-1222), your physician, or your veterinarian ...

Despite their widespread range, this plant has not escaped habitat loss. More than 20 of the species are endangered. The one we see around the holidays is European mistletoe (Viscum album).

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 is what's referred to as a hemiparasite, meaning that it harvests water and nutrients from its host plant, but also produces its own foodstuffs with its green, photosynthesizing leaves.

There are 1,300 species of mistletoe across the world; the continental United States and Canada have 30 of those species. Why mistletoe is 'the kissing plant' Skip to main content ...