University of North Carolina Asheville

Mistletoe: NC’s most romantic parasite

All about mistletoe: NC’s most romantic parasite
A close look at mistletoe
This local mistletoe at the WNC Farmers Market will brighten up your holiday decor. | Photo by AVLtoday
’Tis the season for mistletoe. Renowned for its lovely evergreen hue and history of cultivating kisses, there’s more to this seasonal shrub than just holiday decor.

Dubbed “North Carolina’s most romantic parasite,” mistletoe is vitally important to a wide variety of critters, including some birds, butterflies, and insects.

Here are some fast facts about mighty mistletoe:
  • Mistletoe is native from the mid-Atlantic to Florida and into the Midwest, and is a common plant throughout North Carolina. While it’s more rare in the mountains, it also grows here.
  • The mistletoe species most commonly associated with the Christmas season is Phoradendron serotium.
  • The custom of decorating with mistletoe goes back to the Druids; the plant was thought to possess mystical powers which bring peace and good luck to the household and wards off evil spirits.
  • Mistletoe establishes itself in tree tops, thanks to its sticky seeds and foraging birds that excrete or wipe off the seeds on tree branches.
  • Dark green, bushy mistletoe is easiest to spot in the winter, when it stands out atop the branches of dull-colored, leafless tree trunks.
  • Mistletoe is semi-parasitic. Rather than producing roots in the ground, mistletoe sends out root-like structures into tree branches and steals water and nutrients from its host.
  • Its semi-parasitic nature caused ancient Cherokees to refer to mistletoe as uda’li, which loosely means ‘it is married.’
  • The small evergreen shrub is poisonous for people, but provides essential food, cover, and nesting sites for a number of animals.
  • Despite its poisonous leaves and berries, mistletoe has been used homeopathically to treat ailments including headaches, seizures, and arthritis.
Want to get your hands on some local mistletoe? I got a lovely sprig from North Star Tree Farms at the WNC Farmers Market.
The Biltmore

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Monday, Dec. 5
  • World Cup Soccer on the Movie Screen ! | Monday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 2 p.m. | Asheville Pizza & Brewing, 675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville | Free | Watch all USA World Cup Games on the largest screens in town.
  • Turntable Supper with Bryann Sandoval | Monday, Dec. 5 | 6-8 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’ Henry Ave., Asheville | $100 | This month’s Turntable Supper features a playful spin on classic Peruvian dishes from Chef Bryann Sandoval.
  • Johnnyswim | Monday, Dec. 5 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $35-$40 | This Nashville, TN-based folk duo infuse original tunes with soul, blues, and pop flourishes.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
  • Free Sewing Repair for All | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 5-8 p.m. | 1561 Alexander Rd., Leicester | Free | Skilled volunteers will provide free hands-on instruction in the art of repair.
  • Dark City Poets Society | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain | Free | This meeting is open to writers of all experience levels who are looking for feedback on their poetry.
  • 2nd Annual Wizards of Mixology - Themed Cocktail & Culinary Competition | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 7-10 p.m. | Cultivated Cocktails Distillery, 25 Page Ave. #103, Asheville | $45 | Four local restaurants and bars will provide a food and drink pairing for your enjoyment at this themed cocktail and culinary competition.
  • Corey Feldman | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville | $22-$147 | Catch the iconic actor and musician with a new band on the Love Retours (22 + A Few In 22) concert tour, his first US tour in five years.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
  • Crafting with Corks | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 10:30-11:45 a.m. | Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Indulge your creativity to create crafts from repurposed corks— supplies and examples provided.
  • Music to Your Ears Discussion Series: Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy a Thrill | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr., Asheville | $10 | Gather with music enthusiasts to discuss the groundbreaking 1972 Steely Dan album “Can’t Buy a Thrill.”
Thursday, Dec. 8
  • The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULP | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 7-10 p.m. | The Orange Peel Pulp, 103 Hilliard Ave., Asheville | $13 | Laugh the night away with some of the area’s best standup comics.
  • No Regular Dog Tour | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville | $17 | Catch this rising country star’s original tunes on her “No Regular Dog” tour.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
University of North Carolina Asheville

A gift the creative person in your life will love
Four people stand outside holding jars
The school offers a wide variety of classes including cooking classes for beginner cooks and experienced chefs alike. | Photo provided by the John C. Campbell Folk School
Want to impress your artistic friend or family member this holiday season with an original, experience-based gift? Here’s an idea: A gift certificate for a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

A 2-hour drive from downtown Asheville, the Folk School offers 850+ weekend and week-long classes year-round for adults in traditional and contemporary arts and crafts, music, dance, cooking, gardening, and more. Read: perfect for the artist, maker, or creative hobby enthusiast in your life.

Call (828) 837-2775 to purchase a gift certificate.*
BROWSE THE FULL CLASS CATALOG

Weather
  • 51º | Evening showers | 58% chance of rain
Cause
  • Local food pantry Loving Food Resources has released a reverse advent calendar. A fun way to ensure the holidays are bright for WNC residents living with HIV/AIDS or in home hospice, each day suggests a food so that at month’s end, you’ve created a box of healthy eats to donate. 🥫
  • Chestnut is offering boxes of holiday-themed cookies for December. Flavors include chocolate chip, molasses, gingerbread snowflake, red velvet, chai coffee sugar cookie, and double chocolate peppermint. Even sweeter? A portion of sales will go to local non-profit Our VOICE, which serves survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking. 🍪
Community
  • The holiday season means plenty of food scraps, and the City of Asheville is reminding folks to take advantage of its four free residential food scrap drop off sites. Want to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save landfill space? See the food drop off sites. 🥬
Outdoors
  • New data from the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that total outdoor recreation spending in NC rose nearly 23% since 2020. While the outdoor recreation industry hasn’t fully rebounded to 2019 levels yet, momentum is growing. Dig into the numbers. (Smoky Mountain News)
Health
  • Are you a frequent flyer or occasional visitor? No matter your needs, Mercy Urgent Care’s recently-launched MercyMe Membership means there’s a healthcare package for everyone — from a few visits a year to unlimited care for you (or your family). Packages start at $29/month for individuals + $59/month for families.*
Biz
  • Being in a room where everyone is cheering you on is a great feeling. That’s what local business owners will find at Mastermind for Women Entrepreneurs: Succeeding Together. These in-person sessions focus on accountability, inspiration, group coaching, marketing, and more. Apply by Saturday, Dec. 17 to participate in the next cohort, which starts January 2023. (Space is limited.)*
Film
  • Nothing beats the classics. Kick back at Asheville Brewing Company’s $3 Movie Theater to enjoy essential holiday movies. Think: Elf, Love Actually, A Christmas Story, and more. 🧝*
Seasonal
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6AM City In-house

Holiday Giveaway: Experience More Joy at Biltmore Park Town Square
Biltmore Farms Giveaway
‘Tis the season for a getaway. | Photo by AVLtoday
Love spreading holiday cheer? So do we. That’s why we’re teaming up with Biltmore Park Town Square to host our Holiday Giveaway: Experience More Joy at Biltmore Park Town Square, in which one lucky winner will score a prize package valued at $1,250. 🎁

Enter online now through Friday, Dec. 16 at 12 p.m. EST. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted by an official 6AM City email address on Friday, Dec. 16 (and announced here in our newsletter on Monday, Dec. 19). 🎉 *
ENTER TO WIN
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brook.

Editor’s pick: I was so pleased to find mistletoe at the WNC Farmers Market. It’s the first time I have ever seen it in real life, and it’s even prettier than I expected.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? See what experts are predicting for winter weather in Asheville in the coming months.
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Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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