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Position

Aspect:
East facing, north facing, south facing, west facing

Mistletoe, Viscum album, is an evergreen, hemi-parasitic shrub, meaning it obtains part of its food from the plant it's parasitising, and part from photosynthesis.

It has a bushy, globose shape and can parasitise more than 200 trees and shrubs – apples, lime, poplar and conifers are frequent hosts. Mistletoe doesn't kill the plant, however, so you needn't remove if you spot it growing in your garden. It'll provide you with fresh mistletoe at Christmas, too!

It's possible to grow mistletoe yourself by harvesting the seeds from fresh berries in spring, then placing them underneath bark flaps on a suitable tree or shrub.

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Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sowyesyes
Flowersyesyes
Fruitsyesyesyesyes
Collect seedsyesyes

Viscum ‘Album’ and wildlife

Viscum ‘Album’ is known for attracting birds. It has seeds for birds.

Is not known to attract Bees
Bees
Is not known to attract Beneficial insects
Beneficial insects
Is known to attract Birds
Birds
Is not known to attract Butterflies/​Moths
Butterflies/​Moths
Is not known to attract Other pollinators
Other pollinators

Is Viscum ‘Album’ poisonous?

Viscum ‘Album’ can be toxic.

Toxic to:
Is known to attract Cats
Cats
Is known to attract Dogs
Dogs
Is known to attract Horses
Horses
Is known to attract Livestock
Livestock
Is known to attract People
People
No reported toxicity to:
Is not known to attract Birds
Birds
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