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Viscum album

mistletoe

A woody, evergreen shrub that is partially parasitic (hemi-parasitic; it takes water and nutrients from its host but carries out its own photosynthesis). Yellowy-green leaves are held in pairs on branching stems, and tiny yellowish flowers are produced in spring. These are followed (on female plants) by round, white berries. Mistletoe is native to the UK with the centre of poulation being central and southern England; it is rare in Scotland and Ireland. In winter it is easy spot as a shrubby, spherical mass in its host tree, which is most commonly apple. Seeds are dispersed by birds (thrushes and blackcaps), with the blackcap wiping its beak clean on a branch, and the seed passing through the digestive system of the thrush to attach and germinate

Other common names

kiss-and-go
mistletoe
see morethunder besom
all-heal

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Santalaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Viscum is a genus of between 70 to 100 mistletoe which are hemiparasitic plants growing on woody shrubs and trees, taking their water and nutrients from their host. Woody with opposite pairs of green foliage, they produce inconspicuous green-yellow flowers and white, yellow, orange or red berries. Seeds are embedded in a sticky juice inside the berries which are dispersed by birds such as the mistle thrush
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe, Asia, N Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow on a suitable host tree; apple, lime, hawthorn and poplar are most common, although hundreds of other tree species will support mistletoe

Propagation

Propagate by squeezing the seeds from the berries, and using the glue-like jelly within, stick the seeds directly onto younger branches of the desired host tree (there is no need to lift a flap of bark). Tiny seed leaves may appear within weeks, but it can be 3 years or more before young plants with leaves develop

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Low Maintenance
Cut flowers

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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