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5 Spring Allergy Offenders

Learn when these plants produce pollen. Plus, tips for an allergy-free backyard

by: Jess Ludwig, from: AARP, March 31, 2011

In the spring, trees are the primary source of airborne pollen. During the summer, grasses take the lead role, followed in the late summer and fall by weed pollen, including the dreaded ragweed.

The following five plants are among the worst offenders when it comes to spring allergies. Why? Because they rely on wind, not on insects, to disperse pollen. As a result, they produce a lot of it to increase the chances that grains will reach and fertilize a female flower.

Scanning Electron Micrograph of pollen grains. — PSU Entomology/Photo Researchers

Of course, all that airborne pollen also means more of it is likely to reach your nose and eyes. Read "10 Tips to Reduce Your Exposure" for ways to manage spring allergies.

Next: "Cedar Fever" led Texans to campaign against this tree. >>

Don't Fear Flowers

The real bad actors for people with allergies are plants that produce very inconspicuous flowers, such as oaks and elms. So if you’re planting with allergies in mind, go for "magnolias, dogwoods, redbuds — anything with bright, showy flowers," says Estelle Levetin, chair of the Aerobiology Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and professor of biology at the University of Tulsa. "Although it's possible to be allergic to these plants, you would almost need to get your face into the flower" to encounter the pollen. Plus, she adds, "they’re beautiful!"

More plants that are unlikely to cause spring allergies, according to the American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology:

Cacti, Rose, Lilac, Pear, Plum, Daffodil, Hibiscus, Rose, Sunflower, Tulip