Mistletoe

Arceuthobium spp. (parasitic plant)

56 host plants

Last updated

Data Maturity Baseline

This profile contains verified disease data from extension databases. Regional field notes and expert review are in progress.

Mistletoe (Arceuthobium) grows as a parasitic plant on Oregon white oak and other hardwoods, gradually weakening branches. Remove infested branches or hand-pick the parasite before spores mature. Heavily infested trees may warrant removal. Separate host species (oaks, hawthorn) from conifers if possible.

Cut out affected host branches. New sprouts will grow if only the aerial shoots are removed. Remove infected material promptly and improve growing conditions to limit pathogen spread. Good sanitation, adequate spacing, and proper irrigation practices reduce disease pressure over time.

Quick Reference

Causal Agent
Arceuthobium spp. (parasitic plant)
Host Plants
56

Management

Cultural Controls

  • Remove mistletoe by pruning out infected branches or hand-picking the parasite.
  • Heavily infested trees may be removed and replaced with non-host trees such as conifers.
  • Commonly affected oaks include white (Quercus garryana), black (Q.
  • kelloggii), red (Q.
  • rubra), scarlet (Q.
  • coccinea), and pin (Q.

Host Plants (56)

Fraxinus americana White Ash, American Ash Fraxinus anomala Singleleaf Ash, Dwarf Ash Fraxinus excelsior Euopean Ash, Common Ash Fraxinus latifolia Oregon Ash Fraxinus ornus Flowering Ash Fraxinus oxycarpa Fraxinus oxycarpa Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash Fraxinus quadrangulata Blue Ash Fraxinus sieboldiana Siebold Ash, Japanese Flowering Ash, Chinese Flowering Ash Quercus acutissima Sawtooth Oak Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak Quercus alba (Eastern) White Oak Quercus arizonica Arizona Oak, Arizona White Oak Quercus berberidifolia California Scrub Oak, Scrub Oak, Inland Scrub Oak Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak Quercus bimundorum Two Worlds Oak, Bimundors Oak Quercus castaneifolia Chestnut-leaved Oak, Chestnutleaf Oak, Persian Oak Quercus cerris Turkey Oak Quercus chrysolepis Canyon Live Oak Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak Quercus douglasii Blue Oak, California Blue Oak Quercus durata Leather Oak Quercus emoryi Emory Oak, Black Oak, Blackjack Oak Quercus engelmannii Engelmann Oak, Mesa Oak Quercus frainetto Hungarian Oak, Italian Oak Quercus gambelii Gambel Oak, Rocky Mountain White Oak Quercus garryana Oregon White Oak Quercus garryana var. breweri Brewer's Oak Quercus glandulifera Konara Oak Quercus glauca Japanese Blue Oak, Ring-cupped Oak Quercus hypoleucoides Silverleaf Oak, Whiteleaf Oak Quercus ilicifolia Bear Oak Quercus imbricaria Shingle Oak Quercus kelloggii California Black Oak Quercus leana Lea's Oak Quercus lobata Valley Oak, Roble Oak, California White Oak Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak, Mossycup Oak Quercus marilandica Blackjack Oak, Jack Oak Quercus mongolica Mongolian Oak Quercus montana Mountain Chestnut, Oak, Chestnut, Oak, Rock Chestnust Oak Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Yellow Chestnut, Oak Quercus myrsinifolia Chinese Evergreen Oak, Bamboo-leaf Oak Quercus nigra Water Oak, Possum Oak Quercus palustris Pin Oak, Swamp Spanish Oak Quercus petraea Sessile Oak, Durmast Oak, Irish Oak Quercus prinoides Dwarf Chinquapin Oak, Dwarf Chestnut, Oak, Scrub Chestnut, Oak Quercus robur English Oak Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak Quercus sadleriana Sadler Oak, Deer Oak Quercus stellata Post Oak Quercus suber Cork Oak Quercus turbinella Scrub Live Oak Quercus undulata Wavyleaved Oak Quercus velutina Black Oak Quercus virginiana Southern Live Oak, Live Oak Quercus wislizeni Interior Live Oak, Chapparal Oak