Western Dwarf Mistletoe
Arceuthobium campylopodum
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Oscar Dooling
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Santalaceae
- Genus:
- Arceuthobium
- Species:
- Arceuthobium campylopodum
- USDA Symbol:
- ARCA3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 10 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange, brown
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
⚠️Johnson's hairstreak (Mitoura johnsoni), Thicket Hairstreak (Mitoura spinetorum)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Fire Notes:
- Infected branches may be killed by fire, but mistletoe can persist on surviving host tissue. Fire historically helped control dwarf mistletoe in some conifer forests.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- parasitic on conifer hosts, soil less critical
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Seeds are explosively discharged and must contact host conifer bark to germinate. Parasitic germination dependent on host compatibility.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI