Bollean Mistletoe: The Mysterious Parasitic Native You Probably Shouldn’t Try to Grow
Meet Bollean mistletoe (Phoradendron bolleanum), one of nature’s more unconventional characters. This native New Mexican plant has a lifestyle that’s about as far from your typical garden flower as you can get – it’s what botanists call a parasitic plant, which means it makes its living by latching onto other plants rather than putting down roots in the soil.
What Exactly Is Bollean Mistletoe?
Bollean mistletoe is a perennial shrub that belongs to the mistletoe family, but don’t expect to find it growing in a pot at your local nursery. This woody plant typically stays under 13-16 feet in height and has multiple stems, but here’s the catch – those stems grow directly out of tree branches, not from the ground. It’s like nature’s version of a permanent houseguest that never pays rent!
As a native species to the lower 48 states, specifically found in New Mexico, this mistletoe plays an important ecological role in its natural habitat. While it may seem like a plant villain, stealing nutrients from its host trees, the relationship is more complex than simple theft.
Why You Can’t (And Shouldn’t) Grow It in Your Garden
Here’s where Bollean mistletoe gets tricky for us gardeners. Unlike most plants that we can simply pop into the ground with some compost and water, mistletoes are obligate parasites. This means they absolutely must have a host tree to survive – they literally cannot live without one. They tap into the tree’s water and nutrient transport system to get everything they need.
Even if you wanted to establish Bollean mistletoe (and we’re not recommending it), you would need:
- The right host tree species that it naturally parasitizes
- Specific environmental conditions found in its native New Mexico range
- Seeds that require very particular germination conditions
- Years of patience, as mistletoes are notoriously slow to establish
Its Role in Nature
While Bollean mistletoe might not be garden material, it’s far from useless in the wild. Mistletoes often provide food for wildlife through their berries, and their dense growth can offer nesting sites for birds. The flowers, though small and inconspicuous, may attract small insects and contribute to the local ecosystem’s web of relationships.
However, it’s worth noting that mistletoes can stress their host trees, especially during drought conditions or when present in large numbers. It’s one of those complex ecological relationships where the line between beneficial and harmful isn’t always clear.
Better Native Alternatives for New Mexico Gardens
If you’re gardening in New Mexico and want to support native wildlife, there are much better options than trying to cultivate a parasitic mistletoe. Consider these fantastic native alternatives:
- Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) – beautiful flowers and attracts hummingbirds
- New Mexico olive (Forestiera pubescens) – provides berries for wildlife
- Four o’clock (Mirabilis multiflora) – colorful flowers and drought tolerance
- Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) – stunning feathery seed heads
The Bottom Line
Bollean mistletoe is one of those fascinating plants that’s best admired from afar – way afar, in its natural New Mexico habitat. While it plays its part in the local ecosystem, it’s simply not suited for cultivation in home gardens. Its parasitic lifestyle makes it impossible to grow conventionally, and attempting to do so would likely end in frustration for you and potential harm to any host trees.
Instead, celebrate this quirky native by learning about it and supporting conservation of its natural habitats. Then head to your local native plant nursery and pick up some of those gorgeous, garden-friendly New Mexico natives that will actually thrive in your landscape and support local wildlife in a much more manageable way!
