Following last week’s freezing weather, it will be very easy to spot the dark green parasitic plant, mistletoe, on area trees.

During the Christmas season, mistletoe is used as decoration and by some, to obtain kisses.

Yet, severe infestations of mistletoe on a tree can give it the “kiss of death.”

Mistletoe is an evergreen parasitic plant. It absorbs water and mineral nutrient from its host plant.

This pest affects many of our landscape trees in Texas, which include hackberry, oak, mesquite and cedar elm.

Typically, this plant can be identified by its cluster of green stems with thick, leathery, green leaves that are nearly oval in shape.

Small, white, translucent berries are produced from October to December. The berries of the mistletoe are poisonous and should be kept out of reach of small children.

New infections are caused by the spread of mistletoe seeds.

The white, sticky berries of mistletoe are attractive to birds. Birds feed on these berries and then excrete the seeds which can form new mistletoe plants.

Berries may also ripen and drop from the mistletoe onto lower branches and create new infestation.

The spread of mistletoe is directly related to the proximity and severity of established infestation.

Usually problems with mistletoe are noticed in the winter when deciduous trees lose their leaves.

Severe infestation of mistletoe can give a deciduous tree the appearance of an evergreen tree.

Heavily infested trees may have reduced growth vigor, be stunted or even killed.

New infections occur when mistletoe seeds germinate and penetrate the bark, developing root-like structures which extend within the branches of the host tree.

Large swellings are often found where the mistletoe is attached to the host.

The most effective method of controlling mistletoe is by physical removal of infected branches, preferably as soon as the parasite appears and before it can produce seed.

Cuts should be made at least one foot below the point of attachment in order to completely remove the root-like attachment.

However, removing the mistletoe at its point of attachment will only provide temporary relief as new growth will appear at that point of attachment.

Presently no chemical control has proven satisfactory in controlling mistletoe.