Phoradendron leucarpum

American mistletoe, American Mistletoe

Family: Viscaceae · Type: perennial · Native

American mistletoe is a native perennial found in western California woodlands and forest edges, typically growing on tree branches. Flowering in winter to early spring, this plant produces small, inconspicuous white to pinkish flowers in compact clusters. Growing with erect to spreading green stems 15 to 59 millimeters long, it develops thick, leathery obovate leaves 15 to 60 millimeters long that are slightly petioled and somewhat glabrous. Its distinctive features include white berries 4 to 5 millimeters long that can be tinged with pink, characteristic of its parasitic nature on tree branches. The fruit develops in dense, compact clusters that provide food for various bird species during winter months.

California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.