The tree is glittering in the living room, and garlands are plentiful throughout the house. But people searching for another holiday standard, mistletoe, will be hard-pressed this year to find a decent- looking sprig, if they’re able to find any at all.
There are many species of mistletoe. But the kissing kind that is native to the United States, a semiparasitic plant that grows wild in certain parts of the country, is scarce this year because of a relentless drought in Texas and adverse weather elsewhere.
One of the country’s largest suppliers, Tiemann’s Mistletoe in Priddy, Texas, has halted shipments for the first time in its 58-year history.
“If you have been kissed under the mistletoe and it was bought, there’s a 95 percent chance it came from us,” said Robert Tiemann, the owner.
But not this year.
“There’s not enough mistletoe in the state of Texas to run a commercial operation,” Tiemann said.
The New York Times
