The arrival of spring brings back the vibrant garden, but for many, it also means dealing with pesky seasonal allergies. The moment a warm breeze stirs up, sneezes, itchiness, and a foggy-headed feeling may follow. I consider myself lucky not to be greatly affected, although last week, my blue car took on a yellowish hue, despite a $32 car wash that lasted a mere two hours. Seasonal allergies, often referred to as hay fever, are not caused by hay but by pollen – particularly the lightweight kind that floats into our noses and triggers our immune systems. Trees, weeds, grasses, and even some flowers contribute to this issue.
While pollen can cause discomfort, it plays a crucial role in plant reproduction, insect survival, and the overall food chain. It’s a vital part of our ecosystem, essential for our existence. Therefore, avoiding high-pollen plants isn’t advised in general. However, for allergy sufferers who have had to sacrifice gardening due to health concerns, opting for low-pollen plants might allow them to enjoy the scents of flowers.
Plants that are likely to trigger allergies are those that rely on the wind for pollen dispersal, rather than bees or butterflies. Trees such as birch, catawba, cypress, elm, hickory, oak, sycamore, and walnut are common culprits according to the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale (OPALS). Ragweed is notorious for late summer and early fall allergies but its spring counterparts can be just as bothersome. Grasses like Bermuda, Johnson, Kentucky, orchard, sweet vernal, and timothy grasses are ranked high for allergens.
On the other hand, plants with double flowers or heavier, less aerodynamic pollen are less likely to release significant amounts of pollen. Trees like apricot, fig, fir, pear, plum, redbud, and serviceberry are easier on the respiratory system. Female palm trees are pollen-free, making them a safer choice. In the grass category, St. Augustine and sterile male Bermuda grass are better options. For flowers, varieties like begonia, clematis, crocus, daffodil, hibiscus, iris, pansy, and zinnia are considered allergy-friendly.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, keeping windows closed and delegating lawn mowing tasks to others can help alleviate your symptoms.
You can register here to receive weekly gardening tips and advice. For additional gardening stories from AP, visit https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.
