Test Your Christmas (Garden) Knowledge

Mistletoe is a parasite.

Well, sort of:

Though mistletoe doesn't technically meet all the qualifications to be a true parasite, the plant often latches itself onto trees, burying its roots into the bark and absorbing its host's nutrients. Aggressive varieties, like American mistletoe, often kill their unsuspecting hosts. Romantic, huh?

The bright red blooms on poinsettias aren't actually flowers.

The vibrant red color on poinsettia plants are called bracts—a modified leaf. To see poinsettia's true flower, get up close. The green, red and yellow clusters in the center of the plant are the real flowers.