Plants In Your Yard That Can Cause Severe Allergies

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may feel like there’s nothing you can do to escape the miserable symptoms that plague you every spring through fall. While some pollen can travel hundreds of miles and is unavoidable, you may find that your allergy triggers are much closer. In fact, some plants and trees in your yard could be causing the worst of your allergy symptoms.

Some common flower species that aggravate allergy sufferers include daisies, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and baby’s breath. If you have allergies, avoid planting these flowers in your garden, especially near windows. Several tree species, including cedar, birch, mulberry, oak, and olive trees, can trigger allergy symptoms, especially if the tree is male. Juniper and common privet are shrubs to avoid if you suffer from allergies.

Allergy season is a struggle for many people, but it doesn’t have to be brutal. Your home should be a refuge from allergies, not the epicenter of your symptoms. To ensure you aren’t mistakenly making your pollen allergies worse, you must ensure none of the plants in your yard are contributing to your problem. Keep reading to learn all the common trees and plants that can cause severe allergies.

Common Flowers And Plants Thats That Cause Allergies

1. Sunflowers

Sunflowers have many benefits, including providing lots of beautiful color in your yard and offering seeds with many health benefits and natural remedies. Unfortunately, these iconic yellow blooms can also trigger reactions in people who have certain allergies. These plants have giant flowers and contain massive amounts of pollen, easily releasing it as soon as a gentle breeze comes rolling through. Anyone with a pollen allergy should avoid planting sunflowers.

2. Marigolds

Marigolds are effective at repelling various pests from your garden, including several rodent species. Many types of marigolds have edible flowers that culinary enthusiasts love, but these flowers aren’t ideal for everyone. Marigolds produce a lot of pollen, making them a poor choice for people with pollen allergies. They are also members of the ragweed family, so anyone with a ragweed allergy will also experience adverse reactions.

3. Chamomile

Chamomile is known for its soothing and relaxing qualities, especially when it’s consumed as a tea. It may come as quite a surprise to discover that this plant can cause severe allergy symptoms, including itching and hives. Chamomile is another plant in the ragweed family. While its flowers are deceptively tiny, growing this herb can have major consequences for those with certain allergies.

4. Daisies

Daisies are one of the most common flowers in North America. While they symbolize purity, these white and yellow flowers can trigger severe allergy symptoms. They produce significant amounts of pollen and are another member of the Asteraceae (ragweed) family, so many seasonal allergy sufferers can have negative reactions to these plants.

5. Baby’s Breathe

Baby’s breath is another seemingly innocent plant that can cause allergies. In addition to high pollen levels, it produces a sap called saponin that can cause a different allergic reactions. While baby’s breath isn’t commonly grown in gardens, it is one of the most popular filler flowers in bouquets. Check that you aren’t allergic to this plant before you bring any store-bought bouquet into your home.

6. Dahlias

There are many types of dahlias. They can have large or small blooms, and come in an array of colors. While these flowers come in number of varieties, all dahlias can cause severe allergies in certain individuals. They produce a lot of pollen, are members of the ragweed family, and have flowers that produce a specific type of sap. While some people experience no negative reaction to the sap, others may experience itchiness when coming into contact with it.

7. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are the last popular flower on this list, and they are part of the ragweed family. While these perennials are cold-hardy and great for late-season blooms, they can also trigger seasonal fall allergies in many people. In addition to high pollen counts and ragweed factors, they can also cause hay fever symptoms.

Trees And Shrubs That Can Cause Severe Allergies

1. Birch

Birch trees have many benefits, from medicinal use to the ability to fight soil erosion. While there are many reasons to plant birch trees on your property, you shouldn't if you have allergies. Birch trees produce a lot of far-reaching pollen, that contains specific proteins that can trigger serious symptoms in many individuals, including those who rarely experience seasonal allergies. This tree species is particularly harmful to people with asthma.

2. Mulberry

The mulberry tree produces delicious berries rich in antioxidants. While these trees offer several health benefits, they can also have adverse effects on many individuals. Mulberry trees produce large quantities of highly allergenic pollen throughout the spring and summer. This can trigger allergy-induced asthma, hay fever, and other serious conditions among those living in areas with this tree species.

3. Oak

Oak trees are unique in that they help improve air quality and remove pollutants, but they also produce significant amounts of pollen throughout the spring. Oak pollen is considered particularly strong and highly allergenic. It is also very lightweight and can travel long distances. If you live in a region with oak forests, you may experience symptoms even if these trees aren’t close by.

4. Cedar

Cedar is great for keeping pests away, and its oils have many therapeutic benefits. Unfortunately, cedar trees release large amounts of highly allergenic pollen. What makes these trees unique is that they release pollen in winter and early spring. If you have cedar trees or live in an area with cedar forests, you may experience allergies beginning in mid-winter and lasting through summer.

5. Olive

Olive trees have been worshipped and written about since the dawn of civilization. These trees produce olives and the popular oil that’s derived from them. While there are ample benefits to growing an olive tree, some people may find themselves very allergic to them.

These trees produce large quantities of lightweight pollen throughout the spring, typically from April through the end of June, that can trigger allergy-induced asthma and other serious conditions in some people.

6. Juniper

Junipers can be either trees or shrubs. You can use them as hedges, and decorate them come Christmas. Unfortunately, this versatile plant can also cause allergies for many people. The pollen that comes from junipers is tiny and bountiful and easy to inhale. An immune reaction can range from mild to serious. In severe cases, people can have an intense reaction to this pollen, which is commonly called “cedar fever.”

7. Privet

Privets are fast-growing hedges known for their resilience and lovely flowers, which are nice to look at in the summer, but produce a lot of pollen. This pollen contains proteins to which many people are allergic. Check to make sure you aren’t allergic to this shrub before using it for your privacy hedges.

8. Wisteria

Wisteria is arguably the best decorative climbing plant to grow on a pergola or trellis. It’s iconic hanging flowers, often purple or white, evoke the romantic look of an English garden in bloom. These enchanting vines can also cause serious allergies in some people. It releases significant amount of pollen and is among the most common hay fever triggers for allergy sufferers in the spring.

Summing Up Plants In Your Yard That Cause Severe Allergies

Seasonal allergies are common in the spring, summer, and fall. While the symptoms are inevitable, the severity might be within your control. Sometimes, adjusting what you plant in your yard can change how your body feels each allergy season.

Some flowers to avoid planting in your yard if you suffer from allergies include daisies, chrysanthemums, dahlias, sunflowers, and marigolds. Baby’s breath and chamomile can also cause allergic reactions. Several common tree species, including birch, oak, cedar, and mulberry, can also cause mild to severe allergies in many people. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, avoid planting wisteria, and don’t use privet shrubs as hedges.

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• 13 Creative Ways To Mitigate Spring Allergies In The Home