On the other, its inspires lots of Christmas kisses, merriment and good times. Both mistletoes are real. Both plants grow on trees and rob them of their food. Leafy mistletoe grows in the American Southwest. Both can be very destructive to host plants.
Dwarf mistletoe takes some management, including the possible removal of infected trees.
It usually shows up about now in small cellophane packages with instructions to hang in a visible spot and let the action begin. The mistletoe we use at Christmas also became linked to pagan ceremonies involving the winter solstice. Once Christianity spread, mistletoe became incorporated into Christmas celebrations. Thus began the linkage between mistletoe and Christmas. Later it was associated with fertility.