To avoid pollen allergies, with unpleasant symptoms such as rhinitis and conjunctivitis, discover 14 trees not to install in your garden.
Alder
Alder branch with catkins.
Liubov Solomina / stock.adobe.com
Alder is a hardy tree preferring moist soils, particularly found near watercourses.
Belonging to the Betulaceae family, this medium-sized tree is characterized by its brown-black bark, its dark green oval leaves and its young shoots that are sticky to the touch.
Its pollination, which extends from February to March, is manifested by the appearance of male and female catkins on the same tree and often causes the first allergies of the season.
Good to know
Alder pollen may trigger allergic reactions in people sensitive to birch pollen.
The work
Yellow catkins with pollen and young green leaves on birch branches.
golubka57 - stock.adobe.com
Birch, feared by those allergic to tree pollen, produces very irritating pollen in spring.
Recognizable by its white bark, a birch can reach 25 meters in height.
It is found in various environments, from plains to mountains, gardens and parks.
Its flowering, marked by long hanging male catkins and erect female catkins, takes place from March to May.
Birch pollen, present in the air in large quantities between March and April, causes severe allergic reactions.
Charm
Branch with leaves of common hornbeam.
ihorhvozdetskiy - stock.adobe.com
Hornbeam, present mainly in the north-east of France, experiences its pollination period between April and May.
Also belonging to the Betulaceae family, it is commonly planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens or to form compact hedges.
Recognizable by its dark greenish gray grooved trunk and its toothed leaves, the hornbeam can reach up to approximately 20 meters in height.
Its catkins appear at the same time as its leaves, from the end of March to May, and disperse a lot of pollen.
The Oak
Branch of an oak tree, with young leaves, flowers.
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The oak, a tree appreciated for its beauty and robustness, is subject to a strong dispersion of pollen in spring, between mid-April and mid-May.
Recognizable by its oval leaves and blackish-brown bark, it belongs to the Fagaceae family.
Its spring flowering is accompanied by dispersion of pollen by the wind, which can trigger allergies, although the allergenic potential is moderate.
The cypress
Cypresses.
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The cypress, a conifer belonging to the Cupressaceae family, is widely distributed in France, mainly planted as a windbreak and roadside hedge.
Recognizable by its foliage in shades of green, yellow and blue, it can measure 5 to 18 meters in height.
Its pollination, between March and April, generates a dispersion of allergenic pollen in the air, particularly for green and blue cypresses.
Cross allergies are possible with juniper, due to the similarity of the allergens contained in their pollen.
Pruning cypress hedges in the fall can, however, reduce the emission of pollen in gardens.
The ash tree
Ash branch.
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The ash is a majestic tree widespread across France.
Recognizable by its ovoid silhouette and gray bark, it can reach up to 45 meters in height.
Its dark green leaves are composed of several leaflets, and its branches rise upwards.
Although offering resistance to urban conditions, it is best avoided if you are allergic.
Its flowering between March and April releases very allergenic pollen, especially in the south of France, before gradually spreading throughout the country for several weeks.
Juniper
Juniper branches.
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Juniper, belonging to the Cupressaceae family, can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms in sensitized people.
This shrubby conifer can reach 1.50 m.
Its fruit, a round berry, is blue.
Its pollination reaches its peak between February and mid-April, thus beginning the pollen year.
The cade juniper, typical of scrubland and maquis, releases its pollen between October and November.
Did you know ?
The juniper is a hardy tree that resists -20°C!
Beech
Female and male inflorescences on a small branch of the European beech.
goldi59 - stock.adobe.com
The beech is a tree of the Fagaceae family, whose gray and smooth bark is easily recognized.
But its smooth, simple leaves, edged with hairs, can be confused with those of the hornbeam.
Beech is known for its medium allergenic potential, with a pollination period extending from April to May.
This tree, used both as an ornamental tree and for lumber, releases its pollen during this time, contributing to spring allergies and sneezing.
The Chinese mulberry or paper mulberry
Paper mulberry ( zayacsk - stock.adobe.com
The Chinese mulberry, also known as the tapa tree, is recognizable by its deeply lobed leaves and deciduous foliage.
However, it is responsible for significant allergic reactions in spring due to the large quantity of pollen it produces.
The pollination period extends from April to May.
The hazel
Hazel tree with hazel catkins.
Florian Schmidbauer / Aggi Schmid - stock.adobe.com
The hazel tree is a shrub with a bushy habit, recognizable by its smooth brown-gray bark and its toothed leaves.
It is considered very hardy.
The early flowering of these shrubs, from January to March, releases pollen responsible for allergic rhinitis and asthma, particularly present in the Center, East and North-East.
Pollination, favored by the wind, takes place between January and March, with effective dispersion of pollen grains in the air.
Olive Tree
Olive flowers produce a large amount of pollen.
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The olive tree, an emblematic tree of the Mediterranean regions and a precious source of olive oil, hides very allergenic pollen.
Recognizable by its brown, cracked bark as well as its shiny dark green leaves, the olive tree belongs to the Oleaceae family.
Its flowering, which generally extends from May to June, is accompanied by an abundant dispersion of pollen in the air.
The plane tree
Leaves and pods on a plane tree.
Douglas MacKenzie / stock.adobe.com
The plane tree, an emblematic tree of urban landscapes for its generous shade, hides a lesser known aspect: its intense pollination.
It can reach 35 m in height and its foliage is deciduous.
From late March to late May, vast amounts of pollen are dispersed by wind, which can be problematic for people sensitive to respiratory allergies.
In addition to its pollen, the fibers of its fruit can also cause irritation, even affecting people who are not allergic.
The willow
Avalepsap - stock.adobe.com
The male willow, known as a provocateur of severe allergies in spring as soon as it flowers, should be avoided in the gardens of sensitive people.
The willow pollen grain often triggers the first allergic reactions of the year.
Its flowering period, from March to May, represents a high allergic risk.
Did you know ?
The weeping willow should be planted in a sunny or partial shade location.
The lime tree
Linden flowers.
Volodymyr - stock.adobe.com
The lime tree, a majestic tree prized for its elegance, hides a less pleasant aspect for allergy sufferers.
Its flowering, spread from May to July, represents a risky period.
Its pollen, although having a moderate allergenic potential, is particularly abundant and heavy, which limits its dispersion by the wind.
However, there remains a discomfort factor for sensitive people living nearby.
Did you know ?
The more showy flowers the tree has, the fewer allergies it produces, because their flowers are pollinated by insects, and not by the wind which disperses the pollen.