Somervell County Master GardenersTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Mistletoe – Friend or Foe?

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kiss under the mistletoeBy Donna Hagar, Somervell County Master Gardener

It must have been the mistletoe
The lazy fire, the falling snow …
… It only took one kiss to know
It must have been the mistletoe!

 Ah, tis the season for the quintessential mistletoe. Mistletoe is an important part of the holiday season. Many girls and boys stole their first kiss by standing under mistletoe branches.

Unfortunately, mistletoe has some qualities that Christmas love-birds probably prefer to ignore. Mistletoe, or Phoradendron tomentosum is a parasitic plant, growing on limbs of trees, with elms and hackberries favored among our native trees. Mistletoe can grow 2-5 feet in diameter, and with its evergreen foliage, becomes highly prominent in our landscape trees in the winter, when their host trees have lost their leaves.

mistletoeAs a parasitic plant, mistletoe grows into the wood of the host tree sucking water and minerals. Even though mistletoe is a true plant, meaning it can make its own nutrients from photosynthesis, it is the use of the tree’s water resources that can cause the biggest problems.

While mistletoe rarely kills entire trees, limbs are certainly weakened by the loss of water, and with the added drought endured the last few years, mistletoe is just one more added stressor that trees must overcome, and thus may make the tree susceptible to other problems.

While mistletoe is present 12 months of the year, the high visibility during the winter months springs homeowners into action to control the plant. Small infestations can be controlled simply by removing infected limbs at least 12 inches below the mistletoe. Because the roots of mistletoe are embedded into the tree tissue, cutting just the plant, leaves roots behind that will just sprout more mistletoe.

Again, because the root system is so closely tied to the vascular system of the trees, chemical controls are not affective without also adversely affecting the tree.

Mistletoe produces white berries, which are eaten and spread by birds. It takes 2-3 years before a mistletoe plant matures to produce the berries, so control early is the most promising means of keeping it in check.

Are there benefits (other than the obvious ‘first kiss’) to this prolific plant? As mentioned above, birds do feast on the berries, which are high in fat and full of protein. Other mammals, deer, squirrels and porcupines also partake in the berries. Several bird varieties nest in the foliage of mistletoe. Mistletoe is host to 3 varieties of hairstreak butterflies. Research is also being done on the extracts of mistletoe in the treatment of certain cancers.

So, friend or foe? Although a parasite that can weaken affected trees, trees can survive well with small infestations. So removal is recommended if it can be done safely and economically.

Resources: aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu; National Wildlife Federation Dec/Jan 2014

Unique Plants

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Submitted by Bonnah Boyd, Somervell County Master Gardener

   Looking for an unusual plant to add to containers or in beds?  The eyeball plant, a short sprawling annual with copper-tinted foliage and unique golden “eyeball shaped” flowers may be a choice.

Eyeball Plant   Native to South American tropics, Acmella oleraceae (also known as Spilanthes oleraceae, and various common names as eyeball plant, toothache plant, peek-a-boo or paracress) is an herb used to add flavor to a bland diet.  The foliage has a pleasant salty flavor that eventually leaves a numb feeling to the mouth.  It may have received the common name of toothache plant because of its use as a local anesthetic for gums and teeth.  Some sources attribute that common name to the appearance of the flowers that resemble a sore tooth.  The flowers are bi-colored red and gold, looking like a yellow olive stuffed with a bright red pimiento “eye”.

   This plant is easily grown from seed.  Although it can be sown directly outdoors, it is better to start plants indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, because it will not tolerate frost and requires warm soil to germinate.  Seeds should germinate in a little over a week. The plant grows about 12”- 15” tall and spreads 24”- 30”.  The flowers are produced on the ends of long stems.  A little extra maintenance will improve the plants appearance.  Pinch at about 3 weeks after transplanting, leaving 2 sets of true leaves intact.  Pinching encourages better branching and a more uniformly shaped plant, but will delay flowering by about a week.

   Plant in full sun or very light shade.  The plants prefer rich soil and evenly moist, but not wet soil. Irrigate when dry and do not allow the plants to wilt.  The plants  bloom repeatedly from midsummer to early fall.   Use it as a summer flowering container plant for sunny patios.                                          

References: University of Wisconsin – Extension Master Gardener Program

Fall is Just Around the Corner

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Submitted by Merilyn Cranford, Somervell County Master Gardener

     Another hot summer is almost behind us and everyone should be looking forward to cooler weather and Fall time.  However, those fantastic gardens that were planted last spring are now looking downright shabby.  Daylilies and hostas are starting to look tired, with yellowing foliage and spent bloom stalks.

     But just because it’s nearly Fall doesn’t mean you have to give up on the garden and wait until spring to clean it up.  In fact, this colorful season offers some of the most pleasant weather for working outdoors.  It doesn’t take a lot of time and money to have a beautiful fall garden, but you need to get started by cleaning up what’s left over from spring before adding anything new for fall.

     Cleaning up may not mean more work than a swift tug of the old plants for quick removal.  But if you’re more proactive and get to work while the old plants are still somewhat green, just snip tall stalks back with pruners.  Cut near the base of the plant, down to the foliage, to keep plants looking tidy.  With cleanup taken care of, you can see what holes need filling and go shopping.

     Some suggestions for your consideration might be Hamelin fountain grass, Indian blanket, Pineapple sage (salvia), Chrysanthemum, Blue mist, Sedum, Mexican heather and other ornamental grasses.  Play with color, be creative and don’t be afraid to be different.  Also, don’t forget that fall is bulb planting and dividing time.