Holly vs. Mistletoe — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 24, 2023
Holly is a shrub or tree with glossy leaves and red berries, often used in Christmas decorations. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant with white berries, commonly hung during the holiday season as a prompt for people to kiss underneath it.
Difference Between Holly and Mistletoe
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Holly is a type of evergreen shrub or small tree that belongs to the genus Ilex. It's well-known for its spiky, glossy green leaves and red berries. Holly plants are often used in Christmas decorations, symbolizing peace and goodwill.
Mistletoe is a completely different plant, categorized under the order Santalales. Unlike holly, mistletoe is a parasitic or hemiparasitic plant that grows on the branches of trees and shrubs. It has smooth-edged leaves and white berries. During the Christmas season, mistletoe is typically hung from the ceiling, and it's customary for people to kiss under it.
While holly tends to grow in a more bush-like or tree-like form, mistletoe usually takes on a more rounded shape due to its growth habit on host trees. Holly plants are standalone plants, not requiring a host, and can even be cultivated in gardens and landscapes.
Mistletoe, because of its parasitic nature, extracts water and nutrients from its host plant. Unlike holly, you won't typically find mistletoe growing on its own in a garden setting. While both plants are often associated with Christmas traditions, they differ greatly in terms of growth habit, appearance, and symbolism.
Comparison Chart
Plant Type
Evergreen shrub or small tree
Parasitic or hemiparasitic plant
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Leaf Shape
Spiky, glossy
Smooth-edged
Berries
Red
White
Growth Habit
Standalone
Grows on host trees
Grammar
Noun
Noun
Compare with Definitions
Holly
Glossy, spiky leaves
The holly's spiky leaves are a deterrent to herbivores.
Mistletoe
Parasitic plant
Mistletoe is often found growing on oak trees.
Holly
Red berries
Holly berries are toxic to pets.
Mistletoe
Kissing tradition
It's customary to kiss under a hanging mistletoe.
Holly
Evergreen shrub or tree
We planted a holly bush in our front yard.
Mistletoe
Smooth-edged leaves
The mistletoe has smooth, green leaves.
Holly
Christmas decoration
We adorned our home with holly for Christmas.
Mistletoe
White berries
Mistletoe berries are white and can be toxic.
Holly
Symbolizes peace and goodwill
Holly is often used as a symbol of peace during the holiday season.
Mistletoe
Extracts nutrients from host
Mistletoe harms its host tree by drawing nutrients.
Holly
Ilex , or holly, is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant.
Holly
Any of numerous evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs of the genus Ilex, especially several species having bright red berries and glossy evergreen leaves with spiny margins. Also called ilex.
Mistletoe
Any of various hemiparasitic plants of the order Santalales that grow on the branches of other plants, especially Viscum album of Eurasia and Phoradendron leucarpum of North America, both of which have leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries. Extracts of the Eurasian species are sometimes used for medicinal purposes.
Holly
Branches of these plants, traditionally used for Christmas decoration.
Mistletoe
A sprig of mistletoe, often used as a Christmas decoration.
Holly
Any of various similar or related plants.
Mistletoe
Any of numerous hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales with white berries that grow in the crowns of apple trees, oaks, and other trees, such as the European mistletoe (Viscum album) and American mistletoe or eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum).
Holly
Any of various shrubs or (mostly) small trees, of the genus Ilex, either evergreen or deciduous, used as decoration especially at Christmas.
Mistletoe
(uncountable) A sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration, associated with the custom that a man may kiss any woman standing beneath it.
Holly
The wood from this tree.
Mistletoe
A parasitic evergreen plant of Europe (Viscum album), bearing a glutinous fruit. When found upon the oak, where it is rare, it was an object of superstitious regard among the Druids. A bird lime is prepared from its fruit.
Holly
(with a qualifier) Any of several not closely related plant species likened to Ilex because of their prickly, evergreen foliage and/or round, bright-red berries
Mistletoe
American plants closely resembling Old World mistletoe
Holly
Wholly.
Mistletoe
Old World parasitic shrub having branching greenish stems with leathery leaves and waxy white glutinous berries; the traditional mistletoe of Christmas
Holly
A tree or shrub of the genus Ilex. The European species (Ilex Aquifolium) is best known, having glossy green leaves, with a spiny, waved edge, and bearing berries that turn red or yellow about Michaelmas.
Mistletoe
Shrub of central and southeastern Europe; partially parasitic on beeches, chestnuts and oaks
Holly
The holm oak. See 1st Holm.
Holly
Any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex having red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
Holly
United States rock star (1936-1959)
Common Curiosities
What is mistletoe?
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant with smooth-edged leaves and white berries.
What is holly?
Holly is an evergreen shrub or tree with glossy, spiky leaves and red berries.
Is mistletoe always parasitic?
Mistletoe is parasitic or hemiparasitic, growing on host trees.
Can holly grow on other trees?
No, holly is a standalone plant that grows independently.
What color are mistletoe berries?
Mistletoe berries are white.
Are holly berries red?
Yes, holly berries are typically red.
Can you plant holly in a garden?
Yes, holly can be cultivated in gardens and landscapes.
Why is holly associated with Christmas?
Holly is often linked to Christmas due to its red berries and green leaves, symbolizing peace and goodwill.
Is mistletoe toxic?
Yes, mistletoe can be toxic, particularly its berries.
Are holly leaves always spiky?
Most holly varieties have spiky leaves, but some have smoother leaves.
Do both holly and mistletoe have religious significance?
Yes, both have been ascribed various religious and cultural significances over time.
Is holly toxic?
Yes, holly berries can be toxic, especially to pets.
Why do people kiss under mistletoe?
It's a Christmas tradition where it's customary to kiss under hanging mistletoe.
Can mistletoe kill its host tree?
Severe mistletoe infestation can weaken and potentially kill host trees.
Can mistletoe grow in gardens?
Typically no, mistletoe requires a host tree to grow.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
