Mistletoe, despite the holiday tradition of holiday-season kisses beneath its evergreen sprigs, has serious downsides. Ingested, it can be mildly toxic, according to the National Capital Poison Control Center, which advises it be kept away from children and pets. It is also a hemiparasite, meaning it steals some of its nutrition from another plant – like, say, the cottonwood trees at Salopek Park in Las Cruces. In base cases, the tree’s health may be compromised and branches can die, creating safety hazards.
A severe mistletoe infestation is prompting the removal of six or seven “declining” cottonwoods at the park located south of Stern Drive near Tortugas. The city stated that two trees have died because of the infestation.
Over a period of two weeks, beginning on the east end of the park and moving southward toward the arroyo, crews will remove the trees that are not treatable, while four other trees that have been infested will be treated at a later time.
The city said the parks and recreation department will plant up to 30 trees in a “replacement phase,” and that species with higher pest resistance will be introduced. More information is available from the city at 575-541-2550.
Mistletoe is not good news for trees, but should we be worried about having it in the house as decoration? The NCPCC says recent studies indicate the American variety is less toxic than its European cousin: Ingestion “can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal upset but is not likely to cause serious poisoning if small amounts are unintentionally swallowed.”
