Flower profile

American mistletoe

Phoradendron leucarpum

American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is a shrub in the Santalaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–December across the U.S.

★ Official state floral emblem of Oklahoma (1893)Native to Oklahoma

American mistletoe is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

25states where USDA records it

314OK sightings*

12,613U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oklahoma

🏅

Oklahoma's official state floral emblem since 1893. Visit the Oklahoma page → ^{Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 92(A)} Mistletoe was Oklahoma's floral emblem from territorial days (1893). Its flowers are tiny; it's best known for its winter berries, which are poisonous.

Quick look

Phoradendron leucarpum is a species of mistletoe in the Viscaceae family. Its common names include American mistletoe, eastern mistletoe, hairy mistletoe and oak mistletoe. It is native to Mexico and the continental United States. It is hemiparasitic, living in the branches of trees. The berries are white and 3–6 millimeters (0.12–0.24 in). It has opposite leaves that are leathery and thick.
From Wikipedia's article Phoradendron leucarpum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Santalaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 25 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Oklahoma. ^NatureServe
iNaturalist has 314 research-grade sightings of it in Oklahoma, ranking #103 among the 159 flowers on our Oklahoma list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (115 records)

There are only a handful of Oklahoma flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Oklahoma: No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oklahoma.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NY (SX), PA (SX). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: fruits. Symptoms they list: “Toxic if large quantities of berries are eaten. Stomach and intestinal irritation with diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, lowered blood pressure, and slow pulse.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records American mistletoe in 25 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Phoradendron eatonii, Phoradendron flavescens, Phoradendron macrotomum, Phoradendron serotinum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 592 counties across 23 states; the most are in Kentucky (120), Virginia (68), Arkansas (54).

More Oklahoma flowers

Green antelopehorns

Asclepias viridis

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🌼 Blooms in OK: April–June

Texas paintbrush

Castilleja indivisa

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🌼 Blooms in OK: March–June

Eastern redbud

Cercis canadensis

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🌼 Blooms in OK: March–April

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PHLE14.
iNaturalist, Phoradendron leucarpum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Phoradendron leucarpum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 92(A): Oklahoma state floral emblem.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Noxious Weed Law (2 O.S. § 3-220).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Phoradendron leucarpum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.