Mistletoe brings kisses for some, headaches for others
Mistletoe is seen in a tree on the LSU campus. Photo by Anna Ribbeck/LSU AgCenter
Clumps of mistletoe become visible when deciduous trees drop their leaves in cooler weather. Photo by Ed Bush/LSU AgCenter
LSU AgCenter horticulturist Ed Bush holds a tree branch with mistletoe growing from it. Photo by Anna Ribbeck/LSU AgCenter
Say the word mistletoe, and many of us think of the holiday tradition of receiving a kiss underneath a cluster if green leaves.
But if you mention mistletoe to a horticulturist, you might get a different response. That’s because mistletoe isn’t exactly all fun and games. In case you didn’t know, mistletoe is a parasite — one that can steal precious resources from trees and weaken them, especially d…
