
Top Pollen Producing Trees That Cause Allergies
- Pine Trees Pine trees are evergreen trees that produce a lot of pollen. They are often found in the outdoors and in residential gardens as well. ...
- Mulberry Trees Mulberry trees are known to be problematic for gardens due to their staining fruit and high levels of pollen. ...
- Oak Trees Like most coniferous trees, oak trees also produce a lot of pollen. ...
- Juniper Trees ...
- Palm Trees ...
What are the best trees for allergies?
The pollen is carried for kilometers by the wind. Oaks are often regarded as the most important tree for allergy patients. From February until late May, the trees produce pollen. During the pollen season, oak pollen will create a characteristic yellow smear on automobiles parked near the trees.
Which trees have the highest pollen levels?
Mulberry trees (which can also come in shrub form) are known to produce high levels of pollen. These trees are widespread because of their heat resistance and ability to survive droughts.
Do trees carry pollen that causes allergies?
Trees vary widely in their capacity to produce and disperse pollen which triggers allergies and asthma. Some tree species that bear separate male and female flowers on the same plant are called "monecious."
Do oak trees carry pollen?
Trees vary widely in their capacity to produce and disperse pollen which triggers allergies and asthma. Some tree species that bear separate male and female flowers on the same plant are called "monecious.". Examples include honey locust, oak, sweetgum, pine, spruce, and birch.

What trees carry the most pollen?
The most prevalent types of tree pollen producers in the United States are:Pine Trees. These evergreen trees produce high levels of pollen that are often visible on outdoor surfaces. ... Oak Trees. ... Juniper Trees. ... Mulberry Trees. ... Palm Trees.
What trees produce the least amount of pollen?
Best Trees for Allergy SufferersCrabapple trees (Malus spp.)Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)Dogwood trees (Cornus spp.)Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)Magnolia trees (Magnolia spp.)Pear tree (Pyrus spp.)Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)Other hypoallergenic trees.More items...•
What trees are people most allergic to?
Common Plants and Trees That Trigger AllergiesBirch. 1/15. If it's spring and you're sneezing, these trees might be part of the problem. ... Elm. 2/15. This tree grows in all but the coldest northern parts of the continental U.S. and makes pollen in the fall. ... Cedar. 3/15. ... Oak. 4/15. ... Pine. 5/15. ... Poplar. 6/15. ... Walnut. 7/15. ... Ragweed. 8/15.More items...•
What months is tree pollen highest?
In many areas of the United States, spring allergies begin in February and last until the early summer. Tree pollination begins earliest in the year followed by grass pollination later in the spring and summer and ragweed in the late summer and fall.
How do you treat tree pollen allergy?
Grass and tree pollen allergies can be successfully treated with immunotherapy that involves allergy shots or allergy tablets. Relief can be felt within one year of treatment. Also called subcutaneous immunotherapy, allergy-shot treatment involves injections of allergens known to trigger symptoms.
Do trees release pollen at night?
Many plants produce most of their pollen during the night and early morning hours, and are then spread in the air during the day. Wind conditions have a great influence on the release of pollen and can carry the pollen high into the air by noon, only to drop again later in the afternoon.
What time of day is tree pollen worst?
The tree pollen count is normally at its highest in the morning, often between 5am and 10am. During this time it may be best to stay indoors to avoid exposure.
What is the best antihistamine for tree pollen?
These drugs work against the chemical histamine. Your body makes histamine during an allergic reaction, and it causes the symptoms that make you miserable....AntihistaminesCetirizine (Zyrtec)Fexofenadine (Allegra)Levocetirizine (Xyzal)Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin)
Which is worse tree or grass pollen?
Grass pollen, for example, is the most harmful aeroallergen – more people are allergic to grass pollen than any other airborne allergen.
Why are pollen allergies worse at night?
Warm temperatures push pollen into the air, but cooler evening air means that pollen falls back down to cover outdoor surfaces at night. If you collect pollen (or other allergens) in your hair or clothes over the course of the day, it can cause bedtime allergy symptoms once you're in for the night.
What gets rid of allergies fast?
Antihistamines are a great first step in relieving seasonal allergies. They work by blocking “histamine”, which is a chemical released by your immune system when your body detects something harmful. In the case of seasonal allergies, your immune system is overreacting to certain allergens when it releases histamine.
What trees produce yellow pollen?
The Nature Behind the Yellow Pollen This pollen is produced by conifers and has a purpose other than to make you spend money at the car wash—it's for the survival of the species. Most conifers are monoecious, meaning they produce both male and female cones on the same tree.
Are there plants that don't produce pollen?
Many flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses make very little or even no pollen. And some species produce it only in certain plants. For those, all you need to do is to make sure you have female plants -- the ones that don't make the sneezy, yellow stuff.
Do all trees release pollen?
Most trees bear “male” and “female” flowers on the same plant. However, there are some “female” trees that produce fruit and seeds, and do not release pollen into the air. These trees rely on insects and small animals to transfer pollen for pollination.
Do pine trees produce pollen?
Pines, the most dominant group of trees in the park, begin to produce pollen in their annual reproductive cycle. Pines are especially interesting because they produce separate male and female cones. The pollen produced by male cones is carried to female cones by the wind.
Do magnolia trees give off pollen?
Magnolia flowers are relatively simple when compared to other, more specialized flowers. Pollen structures are arranged so that insects searching for a nectar reward will haphazardly bump into them and subsequently spread pollen as they amble from flower to flower.
When do trees release pollen?
Late winter and early spring is tree allergy season. Some trees start releasing their pollen as early as January, while others continue their onslaught into summer. Thankfully, only about 100 of the more than 50,000 tree species cause allergies.
What type of tree is allergic to?
red maple. silver maple. sycamore. walnut. willow. Most people with allergies are only allergic to one type of tree, but it’s possible to experience an allergic reaction as a result of a cross-reaction. A cross-reaction happens when the proteins in one allergen (usually a pollen) are very similar to the proteins in another (usually a food).
How many pollen grains can ragweed produce?
A single ragweed plant, for instance, can produce a billion pollen grains in a season. Wind-carried grains can also travel for hundreds of miles. Weeds responsible for the most allergies include: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology publishes pollen counts for individual cities in America.
What to do when pollen is in your yard?
Wear a mask when doing yard work. Keep your grass cut short, or replace your grass with a ground cover that produces less pollen. Ground covers include bunch, dichondra, and Irish moss. Also, don’t wear outdoor clothes that may have collected pollen inside the house, and avoid drying clothes outside.
How to manage allergies?
Avoiding allergy triggers and using over the counter medications can help you manage your allergy symptoms . Call your doctor if you can’t avoid your allergy triggers, or if over the counter medications aren’t working for you. Your doctor can refer you to an allergy specialist who will help identify your allergy triggers and create a suitable treatment plan for you.
When is grass allergy season?
Grass allergy season starts in late spring and summer. There are thousands of species of grass in North America, but only a handful cause serious allergic reactions. People with grass allergies must take extra care when doing yard work — especially when mowing the lawn. Wear a mask when doing yard work.
What are the most common trees in the United States?
maple: throughout North America. elm: throughout most of North America. mulberry: throughout the United States (but rare in Florida and desert regions of the country) pecan: Southeastern United States.
What Is Tree Pollen?
Tree pollen is a powdery substance that trees use to fertilize themselves and other trees. Plants have both female and male reproductive systems. Pollen contains the male reproductive cells (or gametes). For the tree to be able to reproduce by making fruit or seeds, the pollen needs to come into contact with female tree systems. 1
When is pollen highest?
Pollen counts are highest in the morning, peak about midday, and then gradually fall. The lowest pollen counts are usually in the late afternoon to early evening.
What is it called when you have allergies to pollen?
Pollen allergies (also called hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis) can put a damper on a beautiful spring day. If you have allergies, the change of seasons may usher in congestion, itchy and watery eyes, and sinus pressure.
How to get rid of hay fever from tree pollen?
If you know you are allergic to tree pollen, start taking allergy medication in the weeks leading up to the time your allergies usually start. Getting ahead of your reaction will help you manage your hay fever symptoms.
How to diagnose tree pollen allergies?
To get a definitive diagnosis of tree pollen allergies, you’ll need to see a doctor. They can make a diagnosis through allergy testing. 3
When do tree pollen allergies peak?
Tree pollen allergies can last throughout the pollen season, which peaks in the spring. However, people with severe tree pollen allergies can also experience symptoms from eating foods that have been exposed to pollen, like apples and other fruits.
What is the connection between plants and the wind?
In some plants, the connection is made by pollinators—for example, flowers and bees. Other plants, like some trees, rely on the wind to be pollinated.
What trees are pollen sensitive?
Mountain elder. Mulberry. Oak. Pecan. Willow. People with tree pollen allergies sometimes assume that trees with colorful flowers -- like apple or cherry trees -- will trigger their symptoms. But flowering trees usually have bigger, stickier pollen that doesn't blow in the wind or cause symptoms.
How to get rid of a tree that is allergic to pollen?
Remove trigger trees. If one in your yard clearly causes symptoms, prune back the branches to reduce the amount of pollen it releases. You could also take it out and replace it with one that’s less likely to cause allergies, like apple, cherry, dogwood, fir, or pine trees.
How to get rid of a trigger tree?
Remove trigger trees. If one in your yard clearly causes symptoms, prune back the branches to reduce the amount of pollen it releases. You could also take it out and replace it with one that’s less likely to cause allergies, like apple, cherry, dogwood, fir, or pine trees. Treat it.
What trees are most likely to trigger allergies?
The wind can carry them for miles. Inhaling even small amounts can trigger allergy symptoms. Trees that often set off allergies include: Ash. Aspen. Beech. Birch.
How to avoid pollen?
It’s simple: Stay inside when pollen counts are high. Keep your windows shut. If you are going outside wear a baseball cap, and when you come in, rinse your face (including eyebrows and nostrils) and wash your hands -- and you may even want to change your clothes.
How to manage allergies?
It's important to know which trees trigger your allergies. Once you do, you can figure out how to minimize your exposure to their pollen. Avoid contact. It’s simple: Stay inside when pollen counts are high. Keep your windows shut.
Can tree pollen be powdery?
Tree pollens that trigger allergies tend to be very fine and powdery. The wind can carry them for miles.
Which type of plants are likely to cause allergies?
Monoecious plants that are wind-pollinated are likely to cause allergies. Dioecious plants: These plants are separate-sexed. Some are male, and some are female. The male trees produce pollen, and are often highly allergenic, while the female plants produce fruit or seeds and are not allergenic.
What is the most common allergen in the air?
As spring approaches and flowers and plants start to bloom, pollen fills the air. According to Thomas Ogren, a horticulturist who invented the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale (OPALS), pollen is the most common allergen that we are exposed to. It’s also something we can control by adjusting our landscapes to reduce plants that cause allergies.
Why are some plants not allergenic?
Because the pollination process is relatively contained, these types of plants are often not highly allergenic. Monoecious plants: In monoecious plants, male and female flowers grow on the same plant. Monoecious plants that are wind-pollinated are likely to cause allergies.
What are the three types of flowering systems?
There are three common types of flowering systems that we should be aware of when choosing plants: perfect-flowered plants, monoecious plants, and dioecious plants. Perfect-flowered plants: In perfect-flowered plants, male and female parts are in the same flower.
How far away from a pine tree is pollen?
Pine pollen, which is dispersed by the wind, generally dispersing within 300 feet from the original tree. Moral of the story: If you suffer from seasonal allergies, think twice about knocking on a pine tree during spring.
How many pollen grains does a corn plant produce?
For example, a single corn plant produces 2 [million] to 5 million pollen grains, and an ear of corn has a few hundred seeds.”. Plants create abundant quantities of pollen to ensure that their seed spreads across a wide area, thereby increasing their chances of reproducing successfully.
What is the viral video of the pine tree?
A viral video of the pollen explosion has touched a nerve among sufferers of seasonal allergies. At first, there seems to be nothing out of the ordinary about the pine tree featured the viral Facebook video. A backhoe approaches the tree and gives it a little tap.
Who drove the backhoe that sparked the pollen explosion?
As Briana Montalvo of ABC News reports, Eric Henderson of Cumberland County, New Jersey, drove the backhoe that sparked the pollen explosion. And his wife, Jennifer Henderson, posted a video of the mind-boggling pollen plume on Facebook, where it has since garnered nearly 5 million views.
Is it normal for pine trees to produce pollen?
While pollen seasons may be getting longer, it is actually perfectly normal for pine trees to produce as much pollen as the one featured in Henderson’s video. “This [scene] is not unusual," Sheila McCormick, an adjunct professor of plant and microbial biology at the University of California, Berkeley, tells Brandon Specktor of Live Science.
