Mistletoe: Is the Christmas plant friend or foe?

The pros and cons of keeping and removing the kissing plant

Mistletoe can cause stress for the trees it grows on. However, the plants play a key role in the ecosystem. Courtesy Photo
Mistletoe can cause stress for the trees it grows on. However, the plants play a key role in the ecosystem. Courtesy Photo

Mistletoe may be a welcome holiday sight when hung over a doorway if a loved one is near. Still, it can be an unwelcome intruder when found in your trees, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist. O “Mistletoe is a hemiparasite – a semi-parasitic plant,” Tom Green County AgriLife Extension horticulturist Allison Watkins said. “It makes its food from photosynthesis, bu…