For thousands of years, mistletoe has been considered a mystical miracle plant that is said to protect against evil spirits and diseases. Some customs have been preserved to this day, so that the parasites have become a popular collector's item.
Mistletoe is best harvested in winter
Harvest Notes
Mistletoe is harvested from November to December and between March and April. When harvested in spring, the shrubs have inconspicuous flowers, as the flowering period extends from January to April. The berries ripen during Advent. Mistletoe bushes can be cut off completely with hand saws or in parts with scissors. A telescopic saw comes in handy if you don't have a ladder handy.
native species
In Germany there are two species that are distantly related. To find mistletoe, you need to know the preferred host plants. The parts of the plant are not suitable for consumption because they contain toxic substances.
White berry mistletoe
This shrub-like semi-parasite belongs to the actual mistletoe and bears the botanical name Viscum album. The plant inhabits branches and trunks mainly of deciduous trees. It can be found on fruit trees, maple, linden, birch, poplar and willow. Hornbeams and hawthorns are also among the preferred hosts. The species thrives particularly vigorously on robinia and develops broad leaves.
tips
Look for mistletoe in overgrown orchards, as old apple trees are a mistletoe paradise.
oak mistletoe
This species with the scientific name Loranthus europaeus belongs to another genus and is rarely found in Germany. It prefers growing places with dry air and likes warm summer months. In contrast to the white-berry mistletoe, this plant is summer green.
danger to trees
Mistletoe is a parasite that steals nutrients from its host plants. Since old trees are weakened, the shrub-like plants find optimal points of attack. When the seeds germinate, a tube develops under the cotyledons. This ends in a suction disc. The tube penetrates the cell tissue of the host plant, allowing the parasite to draw nutrients from the meridians. In old meadow orchards, the mistletoe growth can be so strong that the survival of the tree is in danger.
How to reduce an infestation:
- Check trees regularly in winter
- Cut the mistletoe just above the trunk
- Eliminate newly emerging parasites directly