Florida Pollen & Allergy Guide

Flat illustration of a palm tree, oak tree and sun over grass

Florida doesn’t follow the classic “trees in spring, grasses in summer, weeds in fall” pattern. According to UF/IFAS, Florida’s pollen seasons are more frequent and longer, and trees account for about 80% of airborne pollen in the state. This guide covers what’s in the air month by month, which plants cause the most trouble, and how to cope – with city guides for local detail.

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See how Florida cities compare nationally in the Best and Worst US Cities for Allergies.

Find Your City: Pollen Near Me

Pick your city for the local pollen calendar, today’s main seasonal triggers, and local tips:

Boca Raton · Bradenton & Palmetto · Clearwater · Daytona Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Fort Myers & Cape Coral · Fort Walton Beach · Gainesville · Hollywood · Jacksonville · Lakeland · Melbourne & Palm Bay · Miami · Naples · Ocala · Orlando · Panama City · Pensacola · Port Charlotte · Port St. Lucie · Sarasota · St. Petersburg & Clearwater · Tallahassee · Tampa · Wesley Chapel · West Palm Beach

Florida Pollen by Region

  • North Florida (Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Pensacola): the season starts first and pine and oak are heavy in late winter and spring.
  • Central and Gulf Coast (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, Orlando): oak peaks around March–April; grasses climb in summer.
  • South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Naples): tree pollen peaks February–May, with melaleuca and other subtropical species; grass can stay active nearly year-round.

UF/IFAS notes the season starts in North Florida and moves south.

Outside Florida? See our pollen and allergy guides by city.

City Pollen Guides

Florida Pollen Calendar

Pollen calendar: pollen level by month
Pollen typeJFMAMJJASOND
Trees
Grasses
Weeds
Mold

Tap a square for that month’s details.

  • LLow
  • LMLow–moderate
  • MModerate
  • MHModerate–high
  • HHigh
  • VHVery high
Month-by-month notes
  • Jan Trees: Moderate–high (oak and cedar begin, pine) · Grasses: Low–moderate (Bermuda) · Weeds: Low · Mold: Low–moderate
  • Feb Trees: High (oak, pine) · Grasses: Low–moderate · Weeds: Low · Mold: Low–moderate
  • Mar Trees: Very high (oak peak, wax myrtle/bayberry, pine) · Grasses: Moderate · Weeds: Low · Mold: Moderate
  • Apr Trees: Very high (oak, pine) · Grasses: Moderate (Bahia starts) · Weeds: Low · Mold: Moderate
  • May Trees: Moderate–high (tapering) · Grasses: High (Bahia, Bermuda) · Weeds: Low–moderate · Mold: Moderate
  • Jun Trees: Low · Grasses: High (Bahia, Bermuda) · Weeds: Low–moderate · Mold: High (rainy season)
  • Jul Trees: Low · Grasses: High · Weeds: Low–moderate · Mold: High
  • Aug Trees: Low · Grasses: High · Weeds: Moderate (ragweed begins) · Mold: High
  • Sep Trees: Low · Grasses: Moderate–high · Weeds: Moderate–high (ragweed, dog fennel) · Mold: High
  • Oct Trees: Low · Grasses: Moderate · Weeds: Moderate–high (ragweed) · Mold: Moderate–high
  • Nov Trees: Low–moderate · Grasses: Low–moderate · Weeds: Moderate (tapering) · Mold: Moderate
  • Dec Trees: Moderate (early oak in some years) · Grasses: Low (Bermuda) · Weeds: Low · Mold: Low–moderate
General pattern from UF/IFAS guidance; levels shift each year with weather. Check daily counts.

Main Pollen Triggers

Trees

  • Oak – among the most allergenic Florida pollens (see our guide to oak pollen allergy in Florida); Florida has 11 oak species, peaking February–May, sometimes from December (UF/IFAS).
  • Pine – the yellow dust on cars; produced in huge amounts but rated less allergenic than oak (UF/IFAS).
  • Wax myrtle (bayberry, often called “bayhops”) – a common landscape shrub with highly allergenic pollen. More in our guide to pine and wax myrtle pollen in Florida.
  • Eastern red cedar, bald cypress and Australian pine – other highly allergenic trees noted by UF/IFAS.

Grasses

  • Bahiagrass – Florida’s most abundant grass and highly allergenic; common in lawns and roadsides.
  • Bermudagrass – can pollinate year-round in subtropical Florida.
  • Johnsongrass – another major grass allergen.

Weeds

  • Ragweed – the most clinically significant weed; late summer into fall.
  • Dog fennel and pigweed – other highly allergenic weeds. Goldenrod is often blamed, but its sticky pollen does not travel well on the wind (UF/IFAS).

Mold

Florida’s hot, humid wet season (roughly late spring through early fall, per NOAA climate summaries) favors outdoor mold. Mold isn’t pollen, but it triggers similar symptoms.

Local Tips

  • Keep windows closed and run the A/C with a good filter during high-count days (UF Health).
  • Shower and change clothes after time outdoors; dry laundry in the dryer, not outside (UF/IFAS).
  • Rain washes pollen out of the air, so counts often drop after a storm; hot, dry, windy days push counts up (UF Health).
  • Check daily counts from an AAAAI National Allergy Bureau station or local forecast.

When to See an Allergist

ACAAI suggests seeing an allergist when symptoms last for months, interfere with sleep, work or school, aren’t controlled by over-the-counter medicines, or come with asthma symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath. An allergist can test which Florida pollens you react to and discuss immunotherapy. Trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat is an emergency – see seasonal allergy emergencies.

What actually helps

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HEPA air purifier & filters

A portable HEPA purifier sized to the room can lower airborne particles such as pollen and dust; it only works if you replace filters on schedule. (EPA: Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home)

See the Levoit Core 300 on Amazon

Saline nasal rinse kit

Rinsing with saline can clear pollen from the nose; use distilled, sterile or boiled-then-cooled water, never plain tap water. (FDA: Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?)

See the NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit on Amazon

Dust-mite pillow & mattress covers

Allergists recommend zippered, allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses and box springs, plus hot-water washing of bedding. (ACAAI: Dust Allergy)

See Hospitology zippered pillow encasements on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

When is pollen season in Florida?

Tree pollen generally runs January through June, peaking in March and April. Grasses add pollen from spring through fall, and ragweed rises in late summer and fall, so many Floridians have some trigger almost all year (UF/IFAS).

What is the worst allergy month in Florida?

For most of the state, March and April are the height of tree pollen season, driven largely by oak. People allergic to grass or ragweed may feel worst in summer or fall instead.

Is the yellow pine pollen what makes me sneeze?

Pine pollen is very visible but is considered less allergenic than oak, which releases at the same time. Oak is often the real culprit (UF/IFAS).

Do allergies get better if I move to Florida?

Not necessarily. Florida has longer seasons and different plants, so many people develop new sensitivities after a few seasons. An allergist can test what you react to.

Sources

This page is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or a board-certified allergist about your symptoms and treatment.

Looking for an allergy specialist? See our Florida allergist directory.

🍂 In season now

Ragweed is active into fall, and in Florida grass pollen and mold can last most of the year (UF/IFAS). Florida pollen calendar →

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