Phoradendron californicum (Mesquite Mistletoe)

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Phoradendron spp.

leafy mistletoes

Santalaceae

Americas (United States to Argentina)

Attracts Butterflies

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

HardinessZones 7–11

Overview

Phoradendron spp. is a genus of about 230 evergreen, hemiparasitic shrubs in the family Santalaceae, distributed across the warmer regions of the Americas from the United States to Argentina. Plants attach to the branches of host trees and shrubs through modified roots called haustoria, drawing water and minerals while carrying out their own photosynthesis. Stems are jointed and brittle, branching repeatedly to form rounded clumps 1–3 ft (30–90 cm) across, occasionally larger on long-established hosts. Leaves are opposite, thick, and leathery, ranging from 0.4–2 in (1–5 cm) long depending on species; some species such as P. californicum are reduced to scales. Foliage colour spans yellow-green to olive-green and persists through winter. Small, greenish flowers are borne in short jointed spikes, followed by white, pink, or straw-coloured berries 0.1–0.2 in (3–5 mm) wide that birds eat and spread to new host branches. All parts contain phoratoxin and related lectins; ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset in humans and animals. Because growth depends on a living host, Phoradendron spp. cannot be cultivated as a free-standing garden plant, and heavy infestations reduce the vigour of host trees over time.

Native Range

Phoradendron spp. occurs throughout the Americas, from the southern and western United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean into much of South America as far south as Argentina. The genus reaches its greatest diversity in Mexico and Central America, where it grows on a wide range of hardwood and conifer hosts.

Suggested Uses

Phoradendron spp. species are gathered in North America as seasonal greenery, the berried stems sold under the name mistletoe for winter decoration. In native habitats the plants feed birds and host the larvae of the great purple hairstreak butterfly. They are not cultivated as free-standing plants, since growth requires a living tree host.

How to Identify

Identify Phoradendron spp. by its rounded, evergreen clumps growing directly on the branches of host trees, with jointed, brittle stems and opposite, leathery leaves. White to pink translucent berries clustered along the stems separate it from the bird's-nest growth of true Viscum spp. mistletoes. Leafless species such as P. californicum show green, segmented stems with scale-like leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall Winter

Flowering occurs mainly from late summer through winter, varying by species and latitude. The greenish flowers are small and set in short jointed spikes. Berries ripen from autumn into winter, when they stand out against the bare canopies of deciduous hosts.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

yellow-green to olive-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Phoradendron spp. grows only as a branch parasite and is not maintained by conventional cultivation. In the wild it establishes when birds deposit seeds onto host bark, where the sticky seed coat adheres and germinates against the branch. Establishment favours warm climates within USDA zones 7–11, on hosts such as oak, juniper, mesquite, and various hardwoods depending on the species. Once attached, the plant draws water and minerals from the host and needs no separate watering or feeding. Populations can persist for many years on a single host, expanding slowly as new clumps form. Severe infestations draw enough resources to weaken or kill host branches.

Pruning

Management is carried out on the host tree rather than on the parasite. Removing infested branches at least 1 ft (30 cm) below the point of attachment limits regrowth, because the haustoria extend within the host wood beyond the visible clump. Cutting away only the external growth allows the plant to resprout from embedded tissue.