Tree, grass or weeds: What is triggering your spring allergies?
· The South African
Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds can all trigger allergic reactions, but the type floating through the air changes according to the season and where you live.
Trees can become an important pollen source from late winter into spring.
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Allergy Foundation of South Africa (AFSA), says tree pollen levels in South Africa frequently peak between August and October.
Plane, oak and cypress are among the trees associated with pollen allergies in the country.
Because many trees rely on wind to spread their pollen, the tiny grains can travel through the air and reach people who are nowhere near the tree that released them.
Grass pollen can stick around much longer
Researchers analysing pollen collected across seven South African regions between 2019 and 2024 found that grass was the most common pollen type across all the biomes they studied.
Unlike the relatively concentrated spring peak of some trees, the grass pollen season can continue for months.
AFSA says South Africa’s grass pollen season can run from around September through to March.
Different grasses also release pollen at different times, helping to extend the period during which people may encounter grass pollen.
Bermuda grass, also known as kweek grass, is an important allergen in South Africa, while rye and wild oat grasses can also cause pollen allergies.
Don’t forget about weeds
Weeds can also release pollen capable of triggering allergies.
Plantain and plants from the daisy family are among the weed pollen sources associated with allergies in South Africa.
However, weed pollen patterns vary considerably between regions.
Five years of South African monitoring found 51 types of weed pollen across the areas studied, highlighting just how much the pollen environment can differ from one part of the country to another.
Where you live makes a difference
Someone living in Cape Town may experience a different pollen season from someone living in Johannesburg, Durban or Kimberley.
South Africa’s different climates, vegetation and landscapes affect which plants grow in an area and when they release pollen.
Five-year pollen calendars produced from the South African Pollen Monitoring Network show significant differences between regions.
Researchers found that Johannesburg recorded the highest average tree pollen load among the monitored regions, while Kimberley recorded the highest average grass pollen load.
This makes local pollen information more useful than simply assuming the same pollen conditions apply across South Africa.
How do you know what is triggering your allergies?
Symptoms alone cannot tell you whether trees, grass or weeds are responsible.
AFSA says allergy triggers differ from person to person. Doctors can consider when and where symptoms appear and use skin or blood tests to help identify specific allergens.
Watching the pollen count alongside your symptoms may also help you notice a pattern.