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The Garden Spade December 2017
Mistletoe Through the Ages Michele Warmund, MU State Fruit Extension Specialist
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**In This Issue**
Mistletoe Through the
Ages
Understanding
Powdery Mildew
Great Horticulture
Reference Books
Holiday Recycling
What Is It?
Kentucky Coffeetree
Upcoming program
“Reliable, Responsive and Relevant Information for the Missouri Gardener”
Like poinsettia, holly, pine, and fir trees, mistletoe is also associated with the
winter holiday season. Partially-parasitic plants in the genera Viscum,
Arceuthobium, and Phoradendron are all called mistletoe. Host species infested
with mistletoe often have abnormal growth and are susceptible to wood-boring
insects, fungi, and other pathogens. Heavy infestations of mistletoe can also
cause limb death on host trees Viscum album (European mistletoe) is native to
Europe, often found growing in poplar, apple, and hawthorn trees. It was
introduced into California by Luther Burbank in the early 1900's and is now
found on 23 deciduous tree species,
including apple, pear, poplar, silver maple,
black locust, and red alder. European
mistletoe plants have pale green leaves
that turn yellow when dried. Leafy
mistletoes, including V. album and
Phoradendron species, are not found in
cold regions since they are susceptible to
sub-freezing temperatures.
There are about 42 species of Arceuthobium, known as dwarf mistletoes that
infect conifers. In the western United States, dwarf mistletoes cause an
estimated loss of 3.3 billion board feet of wood annually. These mistletoes have
scale-like leaves and dioecious flowers (male and female flowers on separate
plants).
American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum), commonly sold during the
holiday season, is generally harvested from trees growing in Oklahoma and
Texas. American mistletoe is found in 16 counties in Missouri, mostly in the
southeastern area of the state. Like European mistletoe, P. leucarpum is an
evergreen shrub that parasitizes several types of deciduous Continued to page 2
Mistletoe infesting a host tree.
The Garden Spade December 2017 · 2
Plants with Winter Interest Katie Kammler, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Mistletoe Through the Ages Michele Warmund, MU State Fruit Extension Specialist
trees growing in bottomland forests and along streams and rivers. Host trees for
American mistletoe include river birch, blackgum, swamp tupelo, American elm, etc. However, sycamore
(Platanus occidentalis) is the most common host for mistletoe in Missouri.
American mistletoe is visible as a dense mass of green vegetation called "witches' brooms", growing in
deciduous trees after leaf fall. American mistletoe is considered hemiparasitic or semi-parasitic because it
obtains water and mineral nutrients from the host tree, but it also derives nutrition from photosynthesis. In
Greek, the scientific name for American mistletoe, Phoradendron, means "thief of the tree." Aristotle (384-
322) believed that mistletoe was spontaneously generated, but his pupil, Theophrastus (371-287 BC) wrote
that mistletoe grew from seed deposited in bird feces. Anglo-Saxons also knew the origin of these plants as
the Old English translation of mistletoe is "twig dung". Sticky mistletoe seeds germinate and produce a
specialized structure, known as a haustorium. These structures grow through the bark and into the xylem
of the host tree to absorb water and nutrients. Eventually, mistletoe shoot growth occurs, forming a shrub
on the host plant, without aerial roots. Inconspicuous flowers bloom in late fall and the white sticky
berries, borne in small clusters, mature a year later.
European mistletoe is associated with several legendary tales. Greek philosopher, Pliny the Elder (23 to 79
BC) wrote that mistletoe cut from oak trees had mystical healing powers as long as it didn't touch the
ground when harvested. In Virgil's (29 to 19 BC) epic poem, "Aeneid", two doves guide the Trojan hero,
Aeneas, through a forest to a tree where he discovers mistletoe (i.e., the "golden bough"). After showing
the bough to a ferryman, Aeneas is allowed to cross the Stygian river and enter the netherworld. In sacred
rituals, Druids cut mistletoe from an oak tree with a golden sickle for a special drink to increase fecundity
in barren animals. In Norse mythology, Frigga, the goddess of love and marriage has a son named Baldur
who is accidently slain by his blind brother, using an arrow made from mistletoe wood. Afterwards,
Frigga's tears turn into mistletoe berries and Baldur comes back to life. During the Middle Ages, mistletoe
was hung from ceilings or above doors to ward off evil spirits and ensure fertility. In Sweden, European
mistletoe was kept in homes to prevent fire.
Continued from page 1
What Is It?
Can you figure out what this mystery
insect is?
Turn to page 7 to find out if you are right!
Continued to page 6
The Garden Spade
January Gardening Calendar
Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Outdoor Flowering Plants and Ornamentals
Be sure the root zones of azaleas and rhododendrons are thoroughly mulched.
Any organic material will do but mulches made from oak leaves, shredded oak
bark, or pine needles are preferred.
Hollies may be trimmed now and the prunings used in holiday decorations.
If stored bulbs start to shrivel, they are too dry. Place them in a container with
potting soil, peat moss, or sawdust to stop the loss of water.
Mulch perennial borders after ground freezes to a depth of 2 to 3 inches.
Check dahlia tubers and gladiolus corms in storage. If they are sprouting, place
them in a cooler spot. Moldy or damaged roots must be removed and
discarded. Molding indicates over-moist condidtions.
Finish planting any leftover spring flowering bulbs that didn’t get planted last
month!
Vegetable Gardening
Save cylinders from holiday wrapping paper for making bio-degradable
cutworm collars. Cut cylinders into 3-inch tubes to fit over transplants.
Reflect on last season’s vegetable garden and start thinking about what you
would like to change for next year. Make sure to write it down.
Fruits and Nuts
Leave a bare circle, one foot wide, around fruit tree trunks when spreading
mulch so the mice won’t nest there.
Wrap the trunks of fruit trees to prevent rabbit damage.
Lawns
Do filling and grading around the yard. The loose soil will settle during the
cold months.
Remove leaves off of lawn. It is best to rake them up and compost them or
add them to your vegetable garden soil as organic matter.
Indoor Plants
Lining shelves or window sills with aluminum foil reflects light and provides
extra light for house plants
On cold nights, move houseplants back from icy windows to prevent chilling
injury.
Overwintering geraniums like bright light and cool temperatures. Keep soils
on the dry side.
Water houseplants with tepid water. Cold tap water may shock plants.
Time to enjoy ammaryllis bulbs.
Miscellaneous
Clean and oil all garden hand tools before storing for winter.
All power equipment should be winterized before storage.
Buy your favorite gardener garden seeds, a gift certificate or some tools!
Great Horticulture Reference Books Make a Great Gift
Native Plants of the Midwest by Alan Branhagan
Epic Tomatoes: How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time by Craig LeHoullier
Missouri's Wild Mushrooms by Maxine Stone from Mo Dept of Conservation
Weeds of the Midwestern United States and Central Canada by Charles Bryson
Missouri Wildflowers by Edgar Denison from Mo Dept Conservation
Garden Insects of North America by Whitney Cranshaw
Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening by Deborah Martin
Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs by Michael Dirr
Ball Culture Guide: The Encyclopedia of Seed Germination by Jim Nau
December 2017 · 3
December Gardening Calendar Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
The Garden Spade
Powdery mildew is a very recognizable and common fungal disease found in many Missouri gardens. It is a growth on plant surfaces that is seen as white to gray powdery spots or blotches coating plant parts. Powdery mildew is the name given to a group of many different fungi that cause a powdery coating to occur on many different plant hosts. Each powdery mildew fungi species are generally host specific (infecting only one plant species) or only infect plants from the same genus or family. Therefore powdery mildew on your zinnias will not affect your cucumbers and vice versa. The pathogens on each of these hosts is a different powdery mildew species. There are cases where one plant species can be susceptible to multiple species of powdery mildew. In the past, it was believed that powdery mildew did not hurt plants and it was merely a cosmetic or aesthetic problem for plants, but research has proven that powdery mildew can hinder a plants ability to photosynthesize and thrive. The disease can also significantly reduce the ornamental value of plant grown for their appearance like roses or lilacs. Luckily, it is not considered a fatal disease. All powdery mildew fungi are obligate parasites meaning that they must grow and reproduce on living tissue. In the spring, as daytime temperatures rise above 60 degrees F, the fungi begin to produce spores which are released into the air. Infections occur when the spores come in contact with a suitable host and an environmental conditions that are favorable. Infections spread as spores produced in these white patches are moved by wind and splashing rain or irrigation to other locations on the plants or surrounding susceptible plants. The pathogens can grow on any of the plant parts: leaves, stems, buds, flowers, or woody branches. Some spores overwinter in round fungal structures found on fallen, infected leaf debris. These dark colored structures protect them through the winter. Others survive the winter as dormant fungus or mycelium. Ornamental plants that commonly get powdery mildew include: ash, buckeye, cotoneaster, crabapple, dogwood, elm, euonymus, hawthorn, lilac, linden, maple, magnolia, oak, serviceberry, spirea, rose, phlox, dalhlia, zinnia, and viburnum. Vegetable and fruit plants that commonly get powdery mildew include apple, grapes, pecan, blueberry, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, watermelons and cantaloupe. Symptoms that can occur include leaf twisting and curling, discoloration, and/or a white powdery coating. As the disease progresses, leaves become stunted, curled and distorted. In severe cases, the leaves will turn yellow or brown. Flowers will be abnormal or fail to open. The best method for control of powdery mildew is prevention. Cultural practices can help to decrease the severity of powdery mildew in the landscape. These include planting resistant varieties, increasing spacing between plants for better air circulation, avoiding wetting leaves while watering and collecting fallen diseased leaves in the fall. Fungicidal sprays can also be used but in order to be effective, they must be applied before the disease has appeared or just as the disease has appeared. Once the disease has progressed, fungicides are proved to be ineffective. Fungicides labeled for powdery mildew control on ornamental plants include sulfur, chlorothalanil, horticulture oil, neem extract, myclobutanil, and propinconazole.
Understanding Powdery Mildew Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
December 2017 · 4
Powdery mildew on pumpkins, courtesy of Katie Kammler.
The Garden Spade December 2017 · 5
Holiday Recycling/Gift Projects Katie Kammler, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Now that the temperatures have finally turned colder and there isn’t much to do outside, I get to catch up
on the inside projects that I don’t have time to do the rest of the year. Working on different projects for
next year’s garden or gifts for the gardener’s on my Christmas list is also a great excuse to get out of
cleaning the house….
With the Pinterest and scores of do-it-yourself websites, there are unlimited possibilities for garden art or
recycling garden supplies. As I was putting away my fall decorations and getting out my Christmas stuff,
I noticed that I had several things made out of recycled flower pots. I have pumpkin with a saucer as a lid
and a tree ornament that is made from a tiny flower pot upside down, decorated to look like Rudolph.
That was one I made as a kid at a 4-H meeting. Last year I made several wooden snowmen out of
firewood to decorate the front of the office. As I was looking for ideas for this article, I found lots more
fun looking projects and I know I don’t have enough hours in my day! Also I know that I don’t have
enough artistic talent for some of these but they are sure fun to look at. What are some of your favorite do
-it-yourself projects?
Below are some various craft ideas found on Pinterest.
The Garden Spade December 2017 · 6
Mistletoe Through the Ages Michele Warmund, MU State Fruit Extension Specialist
Kissing under a sprig of mistletoe dates back to the 16th century. A poem written in
1826 refers to plucking a berry from the mistletoe after each kiss beneath the bough. In illustrated 19th
century versions of Charles Dicken's "The Pickwick Papers", young maidens surround portly Samuel
Pickwick for a kiss. Also in some parts of England, mistletoe burned on the twelfth night ensured marriage
for those who kiss beneath it. Yet another custom is that couples should kiss under the mistletoe to ensure
good luck.
Perhaps one of the earliest accounts of using mistletoe for medicinal purposes was written by Pliny (23 to
79 BC). For the treatment of epilepsy, a mistletoe decoction was administered or the patient carried a sprig
of mistletoe with them. Since mistletoe was attached to tree limbs, it couldn't fall to the ground. Thus, it was
reasoned that an epileptic carrying mistletoe or had swallowed the decoction, also wouldn't fall to the
ground. Interestingly, mistletoe was used to treat this disease up to 1900 AD.
Native Americans used P. leucarpum to treat toothaches, measles, cholera, convulsions, hysteria, nervous
disorders, and heart problems. However, mistletoe is considered a poisonous plant when ingested.
American mistletoe stems, leaves, and berries contain phoratoxin, which can cause blurred vision, nausea,
abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. European plants contain viscotoxin, which tends to be more toxic than
American mistletoe. Thus, artificial sprigs of mistletoe are a safe alternative to the live plant, especially
around children or pets.
Although mistletoe may be considered a noxious plant by some, it is useful for many animal and insect
species. Birds, including grouse, mourning doves, bluebirds, evening grosbeaks, robins and pigeons feed on
mistletoe. Others, such as silky flycatchers, several types of owls, red crossbills, house wrens, pygmy
nuthatches, chickadees, chipping sparrows, Cassin's finches, pine siskins, etc., use the witches' brooms of
mistletoe for nesting sites. Butterflies, including the great purple hairstreak, feed on American mistletoe and
the thicket hairstreak and the Johnson's hairstreak feed on dwarf mistletoes. For honeybees and other native
bees, nectar and pollen from mistletoe flowers are a food source. Twig beetles, some thrips, a plant bug
species, elk, deer, cattle, squirrels, chipmunks, and porcupines also feed on mistletoe. Thus, mistletoe has
its place in nature and in our homes as a festive holiday symbol.
Time for Master Gardener Hours! Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
If you have already completed volunteer hours for the year, please get them reported online or send to your
local Master Gardener Coordinator.
If you need a new copy of hour record sheet, you can find it at http://mg.missouri.edumg forms.htm or
contact your local coordinator and they will send you one.
We are really encouraging the online reporting system this year. Check out: http://
report.missourimastergardener.com/
If any of your information has changed (address, phone, or email), please let us know.
These hours are important to us! They help ensure the continuance of the program.
Continued from page 2
The Garden Spade
December 2017 · 7
Upcoming Events The following Master Gardener meetings are held each
month. All are welcome to attend. Please contact your local extension office to confirm location of next meeting.
Parkland MGs - 1st Monday, 6:30pm, Farmington Public Library
Poplar Bluff MGs - 1st Tuesday at 6:00 pm. Call 573-686-8064 for the location.
Ste. Genevieve MGs - 2nd Thursday, at 6:30pm, Ste. Gen. County Extension Center
Cape Girardeau MGs - 3rd Thursday at 7:00pm, Cape County Extension Center from Nov to March and Shawnee Park Center from April to Sept. Call 573-238-2420 for questions.
Perry MGs - 4th Monday at 6:30pm, Perry Co. Extension Center
December
13—High Tunnel Workshop from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Iron
County Health Deparment at 606 West Russel Street in Ironton.
Cost: $15 per person. RSVP by December 6th.
January
10-12 - Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic
Conference in Spr ingfield, IL www.specialtygrowers.org/
iscaoc-conference.html
11-13 - 2018 Great Plains Growers Conference in St. Joseph, MO. https://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org/
February
8 - Hold the Date! Organic Production in Potosi, MO
17 - Perryville Garden Symposium at Mineral Area College in
Perryville, MO.
March
3 - Parkland Garden Symposium at Mineral Area College in
Park Hills, MO.
8 - Hole the Date! Pesticide Safety and Use in Potosi, MO
What Is It? Katie Kammler, MU Extension
Horticulture Specialist
There are several answers to the
questions of what is it??? Just like when
you come to my office with a plant
question, the first thing is to identify the
plant. This is a pumpkin plant from my
patch….looks rather rough doesn’t it?
The puckering is not normal, nor are the
light spots on the leaf. Those spots are
actually hundreds of aphids. This picture
isn’t showing it, but another indication of
the aphid infestations that we saw this
year was the black sooty mold that
covered many of the leaves and fruit also.
The reason that I took this photo was to
show the lady beetle larva. There were
four on just this leaf. So when the pest
population gets large, the predator
population also builds to control it.
The Garden Spade
Kentucky Coffeetree
Katie Kammler, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
I really don’t like getting tree questions in the office because most of the time,
when people call with a problem, there isn’t much we can do about it. The
trees that people call about the most are usually on my trash tree list to begin
with so I decided to write an article about a tree I really like. My parents have
a Kentucky coffeetree (Gynocladus dioicus) in
their yard that was a start from one at granny’s
farm. I love this tree because of its beautiful
shape, winter look, neat bark, and the smell of
the flowers in the spring.
Coffeetree is a cousin of the honeylocust but
don’t worry, there aren’t any thorns like on the
native honeylocust. The leaves are bipinnately
compound, giving the tree a fine texture that
stands out in a landscape. In the wintertime, it
has a completely different texture with the
light gray corky bark. Coffeetree is native to
the Midwest, with a range from the
Appalachians to the Great Plains, usually
found in river bottoms. It gets the coffee part
of its name from the heave pods it produces
with big seeds. Apparently the seeds were
brewed as a coffee-like substance on the
frontier when real coffee was scarce.
However, the seeds and pods are poisonous
with an alkaloid cystisine.
Coffeetrees are in the legume family but
cannot fix their own nitrogen. It has male and
female plants as the species name, diocus,
refers to the dioecious nature. The one in my
parent’s yard is a female but does not produce
the pods because there aren’t any male trees in
range. The pollinators love the flowers in the
spring. The flowers are whitish green and not
very noticeable except for the citrusy smell
and the buzz of bees. There are male cultivars
available for landscaping because the large
pods can be a mess in the spring. The genus
name of Gymnocladus is Greek for naked
branch, referring to the large, course branched
that remain after the rachis and petiole of the
bipinnately compound leaves fall.
December 2017 · 8
Published monthly by University of
Missouri Extension Faculty for
individuals and families living state-
wide in Missouri. This newsletter is
provided by your local Extension
Specialists and Extension Councils.
Newsletter Editors:
Donna Aufdenberg
MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Marble Hill, MO
573-238-2420
Sarah Denkler
MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Poplar Bluff, MO
573-686-8064
Katie Kammler
MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Ste. Genevieve, MO
573-883-3548
Guest Writers:
Michele Warmund
State Fruit Extension Specialist
573-882-9632
The Garden Spade
HIGH TUNNEL
WORKSHOP AND TOUR
MO Strike Force Project
When: Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Time: 8 am to 1 pm in the Classroom; 1 to 3 pm for the tour
Where: Iron County Health Dept. at 606 West Russell Street, Ironton
Cost: $15 per person (pre-registration required); RSVP by December 6
StrikeForce Project partnerships include
University of Missouri Extension, NRCS/USDA,
and Lincoln University who provide training
that will help educate Missouri’s farm
community, private landowners, conservation
organizations, cooperating agencies, and
general citizenry by:
Increasing consumption of local and
regionally produced products;
Increasing customers and sales of local and
regionally produced products;
Strengthening market opportunities for
farm and ranch operations serving local
markets; and
Improving food safety of local and
regionally produced products.
Come learn how you can
produce fruit and vegetables
year round in the unique
growing environment of a
high tunnel. Plus ,there are
cost share opportunities!
Registration and $15 Fee required by
December 6th to ensure meal.
Please mail registration to: Bollinger
County Extension Center, 302 Union St.,
Marble Hill, MO 63764
