Garden Help
Diagnose plant problems and treat garden pests


Get Gardening Help!

Home > Projects >

How to Propagate Mistletoe


You will need: Knife, Mistletoe Berries, Suitable Tree

If you have not thrown your mistletoe away, try growing your own! This partial parasite grows on plants like apple, hawthorn and poplar. Use fresh, plump berries in March.

Best time to do it:

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Step 1

Step 1 of How to Propagate Mistletoe

Start by cutting a flap in the bark under a branch lifting it up.

Step 2

Step 2 of How to Propagate Mistletoe

Insert (squish) the mistletoe berries into the wound.

Step 3

Step 3 of How to Propagate Mistletoe

Be gentle and make sure not to break off the flap.

Step 4

Step 4 of How to Propagate Mistletoe

Germinating seeds cause a swelling around the wound and small leaves will appear by the autumn. The success rate is variable, so use 4-5 seeds to improve the odds. It takes around 5 years for the female mistletoe to grow large enough to flower and produce berries.

Related FAQs


Ask a gardening question:




Latest Gardening News



Latest Gardening & Horticultural Careers


Explore Gardens from Around the World


Kenrokuen Garden
Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

RHS Garden, Wisley
Woking, United Kingdom

Eram Garden
Shiraz, Iran

Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
Pamplemousses, Mauritius



Watch a Video!

How do I
How do I 'thin' grape bunches?
How can I get rid of mushrooms growing in my lawn?
How can I get rid of mushrooms growing in my lawn?
Growing Geraniums
Growing Geraniums
Cultivating Melons
Cultivating Melons
Why are my apples rotting on the branch?
Why are my apples rotting on the branch?
How do I summer prune fruit trees?
How do I summer prune fruit trees?