Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum

Family: Viscaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Mistletoe is a native perennial found in northern coastal ranges, northern inner coastal ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, central western California, southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions on trees at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from December to March, this plant produces yellow-green flowers on distinctive branching stems. Growing up to one meter long with smooth, generally shiny stems, it develops dense clusters of parasitic growth. Its leaves are yellow-green, broad and flat, reaching up to six centimeters long and five centimeters wide. The plant forms characteristic clusters attached to host tree branches, creating distinctive spherical growths in winter and early spring landscapes.

Habitat: On trees other than

Bloom period: Dec-Mar

Elevation: < 1200 m

Bioregions: NCoRO, NCoRI, SNF, GV, CW, SCo, TR, PR, D

California counties: San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Tulare, Ventura, Monterey, Riverside, Lake

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