Across the globe, there are over 1000 species of mistletoe but only two are native to the United States. Here in the southeastern U.S. its certainly not uncommon to spot these parasites growing in ...

Understanding the Context

Knoxville News Sentinel: Sometimes a woe can grow by meeting ’neath the mistletoe! | Venable Sometimes a woe can grow by meeting ’neath the mistletoe! | Venable The Florida Times-Union: Mistletoe: A merry Christmas decoration or menace to trees? It's both.

Key Insights

For many people, mistletoe is a pest, while for others, it is a symbol of Christmas cheer. The origin of mistletoe as a Yuletide symbol came from the Norse and the Druids. Both had traditions that ... The Druids hung bunches of mistletoe, which had been harvested by priests wielding golden sickles, over their doors to ward off evil spirits during the winter solstice. Worldwide, there are some 1,300 ...

Final Thoughts

The Conversation: Why mistletoe is thriving, even as its traditional orchards are lost Mistletoe is a richly symbolic winter plant with an unusual life cycle. With more than half of England’s traditional orchards lost since the mid-20th century, it would be easy to assume mistletoe is ...