Mistletoe: A symbol of peace and love; name means something completely different

Mistletoe is often added to holiday decorations as a way to share love and a kiss in the Christmas season.

While its origins are in Europe, there is one native mistletoe species that grows in Virginia – Phoradendron leucarpum – commonly called American mistletoe or Eastern mistletoe. While it’s the plant of holiday romance, its true characteristics are a little more ominous.

“It’s in the genus Phoradendron, which literally translates to ‘tree thief,’” said Jordan Metzgar, a biologist and curator for the Massey Herbarium at Virginia Tech. “It grows on trees, taps into their vascular systems and steals nutrients and water from them.”

Mistletoe’s tiny white flowers form into clusters of snow-white berries during the late fall and winter, and are a favorite among birds, which spread them from tree to tree. The seed’s sticky coating adheres it to limbs and trunks where “it’ll germinate and make a little seedling, and right away it bores into the tree it’s growing on” using a special rootlike organ called a haustorium, Metzgar said.

A hemiparasite, the woody shrub needs trees to survive, but it also photosynthesizes, allowing it to stay a festive green throughout the winter.

But despite being closely associated with wintertime holidays, “it’s really not cold-tolerant at all,” Metzgar said. “We’re pretty close to the northern edge of its range here in the Eastern U.S.”

Mistletoe thrives in the temperate climate of Virginia’s coastal plains and swampy forests.

Its bushy clumps can easily be spotted standing out against bare branches during the late fall, winter and early spring.

And though the large clusters can damage trees and girdle limbs, mistletoe is a long-established native and a normal part of the forest ecosystem. It grows on a range of trees, particularly oaks, red maples and gum trees.

Some landowners harvest Virginia mistletoe on their own, but others can find sprigs for their holiday decorations at local florists, garden centers, nurseries and other holiday retailers.

Many tree farms also sell it alongside their Christmas trees.

Mistletoe may be favored for holiday décor, but it’s best to keep away from children and pets. It contains a toxic protein called phoratoxin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness and other issues when accidentally consumed.