Best Flowers for Allergy and Hay Fever Sufferers

We get this question a lot, particularly around spring. The good news is that being an allergy sufferer doesn't mean giving up on fresh flowers altogether. The key is choosing flowers for allergies that are less likely to release airborne pollen.

It's Usually the Pollen, Not the Scent

Most people assume a strong scent is the problem, but for the majority of allergy sufferers, it's actually airborne pollen doing the damage. Wind-pollinated plants tend to release pollen into the air, which can trigger allergic rhinitis, sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose. Flowers that are pollinated by insects usually keep their pollen tucked away, or produce so little of it that it isn't a problem.

Best Flowers for Allergy Sufferers

• Roses, especially the fuller, double-petalled varieties, which naturally trap most of their pollen inside the layers
• Orchids, whose pollen sits in small sticky sacs and doesn't become airborne
• Tulips, generally low pollen and popular for exactly this reason
• Peonies, which produce very little pollen
• Hydrangeas, made up mostly of sterile florets that produce almost no pollen at all
• Snapdragons and petunias, both low-pollen options

These are some of the best hypoallergenic flowers for people with allergies, and they're all flowers we use regularly across our bouquets and arrangements.

Flowers to Avoid If You Have Hay Fever

A few popular flowers are more likely to cause an allergic reaction, mostly because they carry a lot of loose pollen or have wide open centres that release it easily:

• Chrysanthemums
• Sunflowers, particularly the open-faced varieties
• Daisies
• Lilies, which combine a strong scent with a large amount of pollen

If you love the look of these but know pollen sets you off, ask us to remove the anthers, the little pollen-bearing tips inside the flower, before your arrangement is made up. It's a common trick with lilies especially, and it also stops the pollen staining clothes and tablecloths.

Tips for Allergy-Friendly Bouquets

• Choose double-flowered varieties where you can. The extra layer of petals traps more pollen inside.
• Keep arrangements out of direct airflow from fans, air conditioning or open windows, which can stir pollen back into the air.
• Give your hands a wash after arranging or trimming stems, particularly with anything strongly scented or if you have fragrance sensitivities.

If you have a diagnosed pollen allergy, hay fever or asthma, it's worth checking with your GP or an allergy specialist about which flowers suit you personally, since sensitivity varies from person to person.

Order Fresh Flowers in Berwick

At Berwick Flowers, every arrangement is made fresh to order on the day of delivery. Let us know if you'd like a low-pollen or allergy-friendly bouquet, and we'll build it around flowers that suit you. Order online or call us on (03) 9707 1800. Same-day delivery available across Berwick, Beaconsfield, Officer, Pakenham, Narre Warren, Clyde, Clyde North, Cranbourne, Hallam, Dandenong, Noble Park, Clayton, Monash Hospital, Dandenong Hospital and Casey Hospital. When you order before 2 pm.

Berwick Flowers. 1/10 Adams Lane, Berwick VIC 3806.