Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Santalaceae

Genus:

Arceuthobium

Species:

Arceuthobium divaricatum

USDA Symbol:

ARDI3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Subshrub

Height:

10 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

jul,aug,sep

Bloom Colors:

yellow, green

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Notes:

As an obligate parasite on pine hosts, fire impacts depend on host tree survival; severe fires killing host trees eliminate dwarf mistletoe populations.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

parasitic on coniferous hosts, not soil-dependent

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Seeds are explosively discharged and must adhere to host bark; germination occurs only on living host tissue with haustorium penetration.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI