European Mistletoe or Common Mistletoe

The Christmas custom of kissing under mistletoe comes from an ancient fertility belief and there are many other historical references to this special plant.

Mistletoe is semi-parasitic and grows on native British trees such as apple, poplar, and hawthorn.

If you possess one of these trees you could try growing your own mistletoe. You need a good supply of berries because many will fail or get eaten. You will also need a lot of patience as mistletoe grows extremely slowly for the first four or five years and even longer to establish properly.

You could save the berries from your Christmas mistletoe, but it’s better to buy them fresh from specialist suppliers and plant in February or March. Squeeze the single seed out of the berry and smear it, together with the sticky pulp, onto the side of a strong branch about 1.5 metres up the tree.

They prefer apple trees; but be warned, if the mistletoe takes, it will impair the tree’s growth and fruit yield. The more seeds you ‘plant’, the better chance you have of creating your own mistletoe ‘globes’ in years to come.

Growing magical mistletoe is sure to bring you good luck, peace and love, and a lesson in patience and perseverance!

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