Q: Would you agree with my hypothesis that the increase in mistletoe in trees is because we haven’t had many ice storms?

A: I don’t know if ice storms have had an effect but I sure seem to see lots more mistletoe these days. Its scientific name, Phoradendron, translates to “tree thief”. University of Georgia tree expert Kim Coder notes that mistletoe-infested trees are more likely to die from drought stress. This parasitic plant does weaken limbs as it roots into the bark and stem. It’s a good idea to prune out limbs that carry mistletoe.

Mistletoe Infection in Trees

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