Mistletoe growers wanted
23 December 2011
The habits of one of our most inscrutable plants are under the spotlight following the launch of the first survey to investigate the country's populations of Viscum album (mistletoe).
The Mistletoe League Project wants all the information it can find about where mistletoe populations can be found, how healthy they are and even what varieties of apple tree they prefer to grow on.
Project leader Jonathan Briggs says he's particularly concerned about trees becoming overloaded with mistletoe due to poor management.
'There's circumstantial evidence visible in gardens that mistletoe is often overlooked,' he says. 'It's grown as a curiosity, and people don't make the link between mistletoe as a parasitic plant and the death of the tree.'
Though mistletoe grows on a number of different hosts, it's best known for its association with apple trees, particularly in traditional orchards. It's hoped the survey will also reveal which specific varieties of apple the mistletoe prefers, helping those wanting to cultivate mistletoe to choose wisely when planting host trees.
'It can be quite obvious,' says Jonathan. 'You go into a traditional apple orchard with mistletoe and you can often see some apple trees are more affected than others.'
However, the number of traditionally-managed orchards has fallen by more than 60% since the 1950s, and concern is growing that mistletoe may follow many heritage apple varieties into steep decline.
It's hoped this year's survey will become an annual event, building up the first detailed picture of the health of mistletoe populations around the country. To take part, visit The Mistletoe League Project website.