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Distribution of mistletoe species around the world
Distribution of European mistletoe in central & southern Britain
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Mistletoe in Europe
 Viscum album in Europe
Other European Mistletoes
Europe is at the edge of the mistletoe families' natural range, and so we have relatively few species here. This page describes the status of Viscum album, the familiar Christmas mistletoe, in Europe, and introduces some of the lesser known European species.
Viscum album in Europe
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In continental Europe Viscum album, the white-berried species of winter tradition, is much more common than Britain.
This 1930s distribution map shows its full range (the grey area), extending from Iberia to southern Scandinavia and from the Atlantic coast right into eastern Europe. The species also occurs further east in Asia.
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It is so common in parts of France and Germany that is it almost impossible to miss, with large numbers of plants in roadside trees and plantations...
There are differing traditions in Europe too - with seasonal use at New Year rather than Christmas kissing - perhaps our less-reserved continental cousins don't need excuses for kissing!
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As well as being more common than in Britain, there are 3 subspecies of Viscum album in mainland Europe, compared to just one in Britain.
The extra 2 subspecies specialise in growing on firs and pines - where the mistletoe growth is much less conspicuous, as these trees, like the mistletoe itself, are evergreen.
It can often be spotted from a distance by its lighter green colour, and irregular growth on the ends of otherwise symmetrical trees
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Christmas mistletoe is very well-known in continental Europe for its medicinal properties, in both herbal teas and in cancer therapy.
In Britain the species is usually (and wrongly) regarded as highly toxic - and so mistletoe tea has not really become popular...
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In the heart of Europe the species also has a traditional place in Art Nouveau imagery.
For more on these uses of mistletoe click the medicine and art tabs above.
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Other European Mistletoes |
In southern Spain there is Viscum cruciatum, a red-berried species closely allied to V album.
It is very similar in shape and form to V.album and grows on deciduous trees, including olives.
Other close relatives of the northern Viscum album are other subspecies of the same group. The Viscum album familiar on apples, poplars etc is technically known as V.album subspecies platyspermum but there are also two other V.album subspecies in mainland Europe:
These subspecies, though similar in appearance to subspecies platyspermum, differ by growing on evergreen hosts.
V.album subspecies abietis grows on Firs in central and southern Europe and V.album subspecies laxum on Pine and Spruce in central Europe.
They can usually be spotted by their lighter green colour (see picture on right).
Europe also supports one species of Dwarf Mistletoe - the group of tiny forestry pest species more usually associated with North America
Our species Arceuthobium oxycedri is not usually considered a pest, growing only on Juniper bushes in Greece, the Black Sea and a few other Mediterranean sites. This picture (right) is about life-size.
All the species described above are members of the Viscaceae mistletoe family. But there is also one European representative of the Loranthaceae mistletoe family. This is Loranthus europaeus - which grows on various tree species, including oak, in southern and central eastern Europe.
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Quick links |
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Want to buy mistletoe? Visit:
Need news about mistletoe? Try: 
Looking for mistletoe advice, or a speaker? Try
Interested in Mistletoe Events? Visit:
For mistletoe cards, tees, mugs etc visit 
Want to Grow Your Own? Get advice here, or buy a grow-kit
Coming soon - links to:
The Mistletoe Picture Library
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