If you are someone who suffers from allergies of one sort or another such as hay fever, hives or blisters the symptoms may be caused by the pollen from various common garden flowers. Plants affect people in different ways, but by knowing which flowers are likely to be the culprits you can make sure that they do not grow in your garden. This article by Marianne Lipanovich which I found on the Houzz website describes eight plants that are known to cause problems and suggests alternatives that you can grow instead.
Do you love your garden but find yourself inside looking out at it, rather than spending time in it, thanks to allergies or asthma? The secret to enjoying being in your garden is to find plants that give you the look you want and that are also far less likely to cause problems for you.Look at a garden in full bloom, especially in spring and summer, and you might immediately think that all those flowers must mean an allergy nightmare. For most allergy sufferers, though, the flowers aren?t really the problem. Some of the most gaudy plants are the least likely to cause problems because their color is designed to attract insects, which then carry the pollen from plant to plant.
It?s often the less showy plants you need to watch out for. They?re more likely to rely on the wind to do their pollination, and pollen carried by wind is more likely to affect humans (and pets).This approach isn?t foolproof, of course. Some familiar plants with favorite flowers are some of the worst offenders. Other plants, such as goldenrod, may be thought to be a problem but are actually a good choice.
Tip: Opt for female plants. Also, look for sterile or hypoallergenic hybrids.1. Love-Lies-Bleeding
(Amaranthus caudatus)Love-lies-bleeding is known for its drooping red flower clusters that grace gardens in fall and also stun in flower arrangements. The pollen from those flowers, though, can be a major irritant for hay fever sufferers. (Amaranthus beans can also cause allergy problems.)Photo by Maja Dumat
Alternative: If you?re looking for a replacement flower, consider the chenille plant (Acalypha hispida). Its long, bright crimson flower clusters are equally dramatic. It?s hardy to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 1.1 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 10 to 12; find your zone), but in these climates, it can reach 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide when planted in the ground; it will be smaller in a container. A chenille plant wants full sun or partial shade and regular water.
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Feature photo: Arcadia Studio
