Mistletoe

[Quevy]

I know you can't plant it! It grows on other trees and needs to pass through a birds body first.

Hi Enrico

Although some (mostly tropical) seeds needs to pass through a specific animal in order to germinate, European mistletoe (viscum album) doesn’t.
You can easily germinate them at home.

Problem is to graft them onto a receiving tree. This will work on any tree except plane trees and eucalyptus. These two (among others) have mastered the trick to shed their bark in order to get rid of parasites.

As for grafting : making a shallow cut or lifting the bark is counter productive. You might want to sand some bark a bit. Like oak. That bark is so difficult for the mistletoe to penetrate that mistletoe very seldom grows on oak. One of the reason the kelts and gaul considered that mistletoe holy.

 

[enrico]

Thanks, I don't need any more though, I am inundated with the stuff, on every apple, damson, plum, greengage. After a while the mistletoe starts to mimic the bark if the parent tree making it really hard to decide which is which! As stated, an amazing plant!
E

 

[Quevy]

Thanks, I don't need any more though, I am inundated with the stuff, on every apple, damson, plum, greengage. After a while the mistletoe starts to mimic the bark if the parent tree making it really hard to decide which is which! As stated, an amazing plant!
E

I didnt know Mistletoe was so prolific in the UK. I understood tons of the stuff are exported every year from France to the UK.
Anyway, good for you.
never tasted mistletoe honey but I guess it should fetch more than manuka honey.

 

[Curly green fingers]

I didnt know Mistletoe was so prolific in the UK. I understood tons of the stuff are exported every year from France to the UK.
Anyway, good for you.
never tasted mistletoe honey but I guess it should fetch more than manuka honey.

We have three mistletoe and Holly sales near me at the end of November then two in December people come from all over the country to buy it .
It's in Tenbury Its all locally sourced .