12 Worst Flowers For People With Allergies

Fortunately, not all flowers trigger allergies. Generally speaking, the more hybridized the plant, the less likely it will have a high level of pollen and the less irritating it will be. The good news is that the showiest flowers are often the most hybridized, which ensures a good variety of spectacular plants to choose from. These plants have the double benefit of usually having heavier pollen and being quite attractive to bees and other pollinators. The plants that tend to be the worst for allergy sufferers are often part of the Asteraceae family and are those with light, dusty pollen that is easily transported by the wind. Wind-pollinated plants are generally more likely to cause allergy symptoms than those that are primarily pollinated by bees and other insects. Here are 12 common garden plants that you should avoid if you have pollen allergies.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–10; depends on speciesColor Varieties: Nearly any colorSun Exposure: Wide rangeSoil Needs: Wide range

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9Color Varieties: White, pinkSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs; Any well-drained soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7–11; often grown as an annualColor Varieties: Red, pink, orange, yellow, white, purpleSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Moist but well-drained

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USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8–11; usually grown as annualsColor Varieties: Yellow, pink, orange, redSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist soil

Chamaemelum nobile is known as chamomile; Matricaria recutita is known as German chamomile; both are problems for allergy-sufferers.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2–9; depends on speciesColor Varieties: White with yellow centersSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9Color Varieties: Gold, white, off-white, yellow, bronze (rust), red, burgundy, pink, lavender, purpleSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, humusy, moist, well-draining soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–10Color Varieties: Yellow, turning to brownSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, average soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–11Color Varieties: Yellow, red, mahogany, bicolors Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Any well-drained soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2–11 (depends on species)Color Varieties: Red, burgundy, pink, orange, greenSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Moist but well-drained soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2–11 (depends on species)Color Varieties: Depends on the speciesSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8Color Varieties: Blue, purpleSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil