American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is an evergreen, woody shrub. Its genus name means "tree thief." It is partially parasitic; although it produces sugars through photosynthesis, it draws its water and mineral requirements from the tree on which it is growing. 

American mistletoe can be found growing on many different types of hardwood trees including oaks, maples, walnuts and more. It typically blooms in the fall and early winter. Mistletoe is dioecious, meaning some plants have only female flowers, while others only have male flowers. In the bluegrass you will most commonly see it growing high in the branches of black walnut trees. It can be found on many of our walnut trees in the Arboretum Woods and surrounding neighborhoods. 

A variety of pollinators, including wasps, bees and ants, frequently visit mistletoe. Honeybees and native bees often collect nectar and pollen from the flowers. The ripe berries are quickly eaten by a wide variety of birds. It is also the only plant that the caterpillar of the great purple hairstreak butterfly will eat. In addition to the variety of food sources mistletoe provides, its dense, shrubby growth provides excellent habitat for many treetop animals.  

American mistletoe is not a plant that you can cultivate in your yard. It either will show up on its own or will not. American mistletoe tends to grow in colonies; very large colonies may stunt the growth of the host. Most of the time it has very little effect on the health or longevity of the tree and offers numerous benefits to wildlife.