Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a parasitic green sub-shrub reaching up to one metre tall.

Description

• Leaves are reduced to small, thin/dry scales, or completely absent.

• Stems are slightly flattened, usually 4-ribbed with opposite branching patterns.

• Fruits are white to greenish-white, almost translucent, and spherical.

• Seeds dispersed by birds.

• Habitats include tropical forests, open forests, rain forests, and vine thickets.

What you need to know

Mistletoe negatively impacts on its host trees, hindering their growth and potentially weakening their structure. It also has potential toxicity for humans, with most parts of the plant being poisonous.

If you think someone has ingested mistletoe, contact your local poison information centre on 0800 POISON (0800 764 766).

Management approach

Mistletoe is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest, including unwanted organisms, cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, or multiplied, communicated, released, or cause to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of mistletoe yourself. Report any sightings to us.