Phoradendron bolleanum
Bollean mistletoe
(c) Roberto Daniel Avila, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Roberto Daniel Avila · licence
Family: Viscaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Phoradendron bolleanum (Bollean mistletoe) is a native California shrub in the Viscaceae family, recognized by distinguished primarily by prominent oblong leaves vs scale leaves.
Bollean mistletoe is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, central and southern Sierra Nevada, central western California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin, and desert regions on pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 200 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small white to straw-colored or pinkish flowers on short internodes. Growing with erect-spreading green to olive-green stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, the plant has distinctive branching characteristics. Its leaves are oblanceolate-oblong, measuring 10 to 25 millimeters long and 2 to 8 millimeters wide, arranged along the stems. The fruit develops as a small white to straw-colored or pinkish berry approximately 4 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; distinguished primarily by prominent oblong leaves vs scale leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pinyon/juniper woodland, on
Elevation: 200-2500 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Tulare, Riverside, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Modoc, Nevada, Tehama, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, San Benito, Napa, San Diego, Siskiyou, Shasta, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Lassen, Colusa, Mariposa, Imperial
Outside California: to southern Oregon, central and southern Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Phoradendron bolleanum blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Viscum: Phoradendron has smaller leaves (<47mm) and berries (3-6mm); Viscum has thick waxy leaves (50-80mm) and large berries (6-10mm).; vs Arceuthobium: Phoradendron has obvious oval leaves and grows >8 inches; Arceuthobium has tiny scales and stays <8 inches on conifers.; vs Eriogonum: Phoradendron grows as leafy mistletoe up in trees; Eriogonum is a ground-level shrub or herb with flower clusters.; vs Quercus: Phoradendron is the leafy parasite growing on the oak; Quercus is the host tree with acorns.; vs Euphorbia: Phoradendron grows as mistletoe in tree canopy; Euphorbia grows at ground level with milky sap when broken.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phoradendron bolleanum native to California?
Yes. Phoradendron bolleanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phoradendron bolleanum bloom?
Phoradendron bolleanum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Phoradendron bolleanum grow?
Phoradendron bolleanum occurs in Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Tulare, Riverside, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 200-2500 m.
What plant family does Phoradendron bolleanum belong to?
Phoradendron bolleanum is in the Viscaceae family, genus Phoradendron.
What habitat does Phoradendron bolleanum grow in?
Phoradendron bolleanum grows in Pinyon/juniper woodland, on.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.