Disclosure: I am a 3M sponsored blogger and I have received 3M filtration products for review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes. Who wants to deal with that when you go out to enjoy a summer day in the garden? I know I don’t! Many popular garden flowers and plants are high pollen producers so to avoid the sniffles you’ll want to plan your garden carefully. Read on for some ways to make that happen.
Top Flowers for Allergy Friendly Gardens
Lucky for us there are plenty of bright and beautiful flower options that won’t send you running for the Kleenex box. Tip: look for insect pollinating plants as opposed to the type that rely on the wind to distribute their goods. Wind pollinated plants produce pollen that is tiny, light and easily inhaled. Here are some great allergy friendly options:
Begonia
Clematis vine
Crocus
Cyclamens
Daffodil
Dusty miller
Foxglove
Geranium
Hibiscus
Hosta
Hydrangea
Impatiens
Iris
Lily
Pansy
Periwinkle
Phlox
Rose
Salvia
Snapdragon
Sweet pea vine
Tulip
Verbena
Zinnia
High Pollen Plants to Avoid
Steer clear of these guys if you think you’re susceptible to pollen allergies.
- Chamomile
- Chrysanthemum
- Cypress
- Goldenrod
- Juniper
- Ornamental grasses like perennial rye, Bermuda grass, June grass and redtop grass
- Sunflowers
Other ways to help keep down the pollen in your yard are to mow the lawn frequently, keep weeds at bay (many of them are pollen producing), and use ground cover plants to keep pollen dust from accumulating in the garden.
How to Help Reduce Pollen in the Home
Did you know you can reduce the amount of pollen in your home by using the proper air filters?
The Filtrete Micro Allergen Reduction Filter attracts and captures large airborne allergens including pollen, mold spores and dust mite debris. On top of that, the filters are electrostatically charged to attract microscopic particles like household dust and pet dander.
I keep my furnace fan blowing all summer long in order to take advantage of my filter that captures allergens, even when the furnace and air conditioner are off. The hardest part is remembering to change the filter every 3 months. I put a reminder on my electronic calendar so I won’t forget!
Do your favorite garden plants ever make you sneeze?
Lori Popkewitz Alper says
Good to know Micaela. Thanks for the handy list.
Micaela says
Thanks Lori – hope it’s helpful for your garden plans!
Beth K. says
Actually, goldenrod is allergy friendly. Goldenrod and ragweed bloom at the same time and ragweed is the allergy culprit. Rosemary Gladstar says that you would literally have to stick goldenrod flowers up your nose to react. Ragweed flowers are yellowy-green and hard to see, so everyone blames the showy goldenrod for their troubles.
Those are some beautiful flowers you have, by the way.
Micaela says
Thanks for the correction Beth – glad to know that goldenrod is OK! It must be a common misconception because I found it listed as a potential allergen in a number of sources.
Beth K. says
Yeah, apparently some people who handle it a lot can have reactions but if it’s just in your flower bed or in a vase on the table I doubt that anyone but the most sensitive would have issues.