Pages

September 10, 2012

Garden plants for allergy sufferers


- by Debra Anchors

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, seasonal allergies affect 22 million Americans each year, while 12 to 15 million suffer with asthma. Pollen is often a garden-lover’s worst nightmare.

Dr. Jeffrey Sugar, a board-certified allergist, explains that trees such as oaks, maples, and birches lead to spring allergy symptoms. Grasses, such as those found along roadsides, cause problems in June and July; and weeds, especially ragweed, trigger symptoms between August and the first frost.

Not all flowers produce allergenic pollen. You may need to forgo a favorite flower or two, but you will find many low-allergy plant options with which to create a lovely garden.


Low-allergen plant choices –

Crab apple
Daylily
Delphinium
Hollyhock
Mealy-cup sage (and other sages such as scarlet sage)
Pansy
Peony
Petunia
Snapdragon
Tulip tree

Plants to avoid –

Asters
Birch trees
Cosmos
Daisies
Flowering tobacco
Foxglove
Garden mums
Grasses
Lantana
Marigold
Ragweed
Spider flower
Sunflower
Zinnia

Image Note: False color scanning electron microscope image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower, morning glory, prairie hollyhock, oriental lily, evening primrose and castor bean.  Public domain image (created by the Dartmouth Electron Microscope Facility).

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden.  If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever! 
-Debra

Did you like this post? Please recommend it to other readers by selecting the g+1 box, below.



1 comment:

  1. We suffer terrible here...but still love the gardens...thanks for the helpful info!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.