‘Tis the season! Here’s how to harvest your own mistletoe, and help trees in the process

The season for kissing under the mistletoe has arrived, and if you want to harvest those white berries yourself in our local forests, you're going to need a permit

We may associate mistletoe with romance, but it’s actually a parasitic plant that can harm our forest’s trees — severe infestations can even kill them. That’s why the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests require permits to harvest mistletoe.

Found on oaks and pines, the plant siphons nutrients and water. While healthy trees can coexist with mistletoe — and mistletoe can provide a source of food and nesting for local birds and small wildlife — too much of it can weaken trees, especially if they’re already stressed by other impacts such as drought or disease.

There are different types of mistletoe, but dwarf mistletoe tends to be the most threatening variety (though it's not as pretty as the typical mistletoe you might catch a smooch under).

How to harvest

To get a permit for the Angeles or San Bernardino national forests, you’ll need to call your nearest district office (here’s the list for the Angeles, and here’s the list for San Bernardino) and schedule an appointment.

There’s a $20 minimum fee to harvest mistletoe in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, but there are no fees associated with harvesting mistletoe from the rest of the Angeles Forest, if the mistletoe will be used for personal use.

Tips on harvesting

When you get your permit, the resource officer will give you ideas for the closest areas to find mistletoe. Some of those places include:

• Crystal Lake Recreation Area
• Chilao
• Mt. Baldy
• The Sawmill-Liebre area out towards Lake Hughes. 

(Be sure to stay out of areas closed due to the Bridge Fire or other forest orders.)

Be sure not to cut whole limbs off trees to collect your mistletoe. Just pluck it by hand. Mistletoe can also be sticky, so it’s a good idea to bring gloves. And always keep mistletoe away from pets and children — it’s poisonous if eaten.