Mistletoe: Is the Christmas plant friend or foe?

The pros and cons of keeping and removing the kissing plant

  • Mistletoe can cause stress for the trees it grows on. However, the plants play a key role in the ecosystem. Courtesy Photo
    Mistletoe can cause stress for the trees it grows on. However, the plants play a key role in the ecosystem. Courtesy Photo
    Mistletoe may be a welcome holiday sight when hung over a doorway if a loved one is near. Still, it can be an unwelcome intruder when found in your trees, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist. O “Mistletoe is a hemiparasite – a semi-parasitic plant,” Tom Green County AgriLife Extension horticulturist Allison Watkins said. “It makes its food from photosy...

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