Planting Allergy-Free Flowers for Summer Gardens

The mountains of Arizona are at the peak of the planting season. The start of summer offers even brighter flowers than spring, and Watters Garden Center is fully stocked with these summer lovers.

Flowers are beautiful, but they are a mixed blessing for allergy sufferers. Not all flowers trigger allergies. The more hybridized the plant, the less likely it will be to have a high level of pollen and the less irritating it will be. The plants that transfer their pollen by wind are the real culprits. Flowers can be even more annoying when brought into confined spaces indoors.

As we continue the planting season, here are garden plants to avoid and safer bloomers for allergy sufferers.

Worst Flowers for People with Allergies

The worst offenders are the Daisy family, Asteraceae, which includes asters, dahlias, daisies, Gerber daisies, chamomile, chrysanthemums and sunflowers.

If this family includes some of your favorite flowers, take heart. There are some exceptions. The hybrids classified as “formal doubles” have virtually no pollen. These are the fluffy flowers with lots of petals and stamens that have evolved into pollen-less staminodes. We specialize in these flowers at Watters Garden Center, with an ever-expanding list of allergy-free flowers.

Some pollen-free sunflower varieties, like Apricot Twist and Joker, are hypoallergenic because their pollen is too heavy to be wind-borne.

Ragweed is the bane of every allergy sufferer. For decades, poor Goldenrod has been mistaken for ragweed, although it can cause some reactions in high-wind areas.

Baby’s Breath shows up in many florist bouquets. Although the flowers are small, they pack a lot of pollen. It may seem counterintuitive, but the double-flowered variety is a better choice than the single-flowered types. The hybridized double flower varieties have been bred for beauty without the pollen count of their wilder cousin.

Best Flowers Without the Allergy Issues

Now, for the good news. Many flowers should not cause any sniffles.

Start with plants grown for their foliage. Hosta, dusty miller and cactus are all superior choices. Azalea, begonia, bougainvillea, camellia, clematis, columbine, geranium, hibiscus, hydrangea, impatiens, iris, lily, orchid, pansy, petunia, phlox, rose, snapdragon, thrift, verbena, viola and zinnia provide allergy-free color in the gardens.

Most spring bulbs are superficial in pollen, including crocus, daffodils, hyacinth and tulips.

While lilies have a bit of pollen; it is effortless to remove the stamens and the pollen-laden anthers with a pair of scissors. Be careful, though, because the yellow pollen can stain clothes and fingers. Even worse, the stems can exude a sap that causes skin irritation in sensitive people.

Some highly fragrant flowers do not aggravate allergies but can still be an irritant with their potent smells. In close quarters, they can cause headaches and may be best enjoyed outdoors. These include gardenia, hyacinth, jasmine and lilacs. Many French hybrid lilacs and the white or yellow varieties are not as highly scented. Also, try the new Bloomerang series of miniature lilac that repeat-blooms through our long growing season.

Since most flowering bulbs are not the culprits causing allergy symptoms, take a look at your trees if you find yourself sneezing. The biggest offenders are arborvitae, junipers and some of the pines, as they spew pollen, causing allergy grief.

Many trees are monoecious, meaning they have separate male and female flowers. For the pollen to get from the male flower to the female flower, it has to travel, and the wind is often the easiest way to disburse it. Unfortunately, some pollen makes its way to your nose instead of the female flowers.

Again, Watters specializes in the newest varieties of cypress, cedar, pine and spruce, in which much of the pollen has been bred out of the tree, causing far fewer allergy problems.

Until next issue, I’ll be helping local gardeners with allergy-free flowers here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Flowers.com.