Bloomipedia
American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum)
Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

American mistletoe

Phoradendron leucarpum

★ 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
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.

  • 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 110 flowers on our Oklahoma list. iNaturalist

American mistletoe gift ideas

Handmade american mistletoe gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    American mistletoe art print

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    American mistletoe greeting card

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    American mistletoe mug

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    American mistletoe earrings

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    American mistletoe embroidery pattern

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    American mistletoe sticker

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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.

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.

More Oklahoma flowers

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Texas paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)

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Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)

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Sources