Mistletoe

These ethereal spheres of evergreen foliage can often be spotted growing wild in bare trees over winter, and are a delightful touch to our front doors and hallways for Christmas.

The age-old kissing tradition has been around since pagan times, when the white mistletoe berries were thought to be linked to fertility.

Because mistletoe is a parasitic plant, which means it depends on a host plant to survive, it can be quite difficult to propagate yourself.

My recommendation is to buy a growing kit, which contains mature berries for planting and helpful advice.

Bear in mind too that mistletoe is rarely spotted in northern Britain – so you will have a much higher chance of success if you live in the Midlands or in southern England. Don’t attempt to plant berries from shop-bought Christmas mistletoe, as these are harvested before they are mature.

Mature berries can be gathered from wild mistletoe in March or April.

To plant your berries, choose a wellestablished tree in your garden – at least 15 years old – that is exposed to plenty of sunlight. Apple and poplar trees are often favoured by mistletoe.

Slice into the bark of a thick, high-up branch that is at least 10cm in diameter, and then place the seeds from your berries underneath the bark flap.

Wrap the wound in sacking or hessian to seal it, then wait… and hope for the best.

The tree branch will swell if the seeds germinate, but it may be several years before your mistletoe grows very large. Keep an eye out once it has taken hold – if the mistletoe gets out of hand, or takes nutrients away from the host tree and affects fruit yields, you can prune it back over winter.

Cut back both male and female growths each year (the female bear berries, whereas the male do not), and remove any new seedlings from other branches.

Tie up your cuttings with festive ribbon, dangle them from your doorway – and remember to greet your guests with a traditional kiss.

There you have it – spruce, holly, ivy and mistletoe, four lovely and fresh decorations that you can grow in your very own garden. Give the gardener in your life a year’s membership of the Royal Horticultural Society – and receive a free copy of Mary Berry’s Foolproof Cooking book worth £25. For just £59, your gardening chum can enjoy unlimited days out in four splendid RHS gardens, enjoy spectacular RHS garden shows and The Garden magazine delivered to their door every month, as well as free entry to more than 195 RHS “partner gardens”. The offer runs until Tuesday, so move fast – it’s a brilliant gift for anyone with green fingers who loves the outdoors. Visit rhs.org.uk/ join/gift786 for more details and to order online.