In severe cases, mistletoe will kill trees. The seeds of mistletoe are borne as white fruit on female plants. These berries are sticky and are spread by birds. The seeds germinate and penetrate young, thin bark. As the seed germinate, a haustorium is formed that penetrates the cambium and eventually grows into the wood.
Infection often causes large swellings to be formed around the point of entry.
Chemical control has not proven satisfactory. Physical removal is successful only if the haustorium are removed. On small limbs, make cuts 10 to 12 inches below the point of attachment. On larger limbs, remove a suitable size wood chip at the point of attachment. Spanish moss is a long, whisker-like plant growth which hangs from trees.