Plant These Hay Fever-Friendly Flowers to Cut Down on Summer Sneezing
Allergies are literally annoying. They transform what should be your serene outdoor space into a sneezing-inducing landscape of hell. In the United States, an estimated 19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children have allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
But the good news is that there are color options for just about everyone, even hay fever sufferers. The trick is to choose the right plants. Here are six colors to use for hay fever.
Flowers for hay fever patients
Of course, you will also have to take factors such as your local environment and weather into account, but here are some color options to get you started, courtesy of Interflora :
Snapdragon
Snapdragon, also known as Antirrhinums, has tightly closed buds that keep pollen to a minimum. “These flowers, said to represent the meaning of ‘gracious lady,’ are nectar for bumblebees, which are one of the few insects capable of ‘opening’ a flower,” reports Interflora .
Peonies
This popular summer flower with “large, luxurious taffeta-like flower heads” is a good choice for hay fever sufferers because it is pollinated by insects rather than wind.
Roses
It turns out that people with allergies can stop smelling roses. This is because roses only release small amounts of pollen into the air. Choose varieties with dense buds for even less pollen exposure.
Gladiolus
Gladioli originated in South Africa and their flowers contain thick and sticky pollen. This means they are usually pollinated by bees rather than wind-carried pollen.
Astrantia
According to Interflora , “Astrantia was first cultivated in Britain in the 16th century and has become a favorite of home gardens that can also be found in the wild.” They also tend to have lower pollen levels.
Hydrangeas
Like many of the other flowers on the list, hydrangeas rely on bee pollination – which means that their natural design prevents pollen from being carried downwind (and then makes us sneeze).