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Allergies to Grasses and Weeds

Grasses and weeds produce tiny grains known as pollen, which are dispersed by the wind. If inhaled, these airborne grains can produce a variety of allergic symptoms, such as watery eyes, nasal congestion and sneezing. Touching grass or weed pollen can also trigger skin allergies, such as hives or skin rashes.

  1. Grass

    • Much of the grass pollen in urban and suburban areas comes directly from Bermuda grass. The grass produces large amounts of grains that severely affect allergy sufferers. Other types that cause allergies include Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson, Orchard, Timothy, Rye and Redtop grasses. To prevent allergies, female cultivars of Buffalo grass are planted. The female variety produces no pollen and causes no allergies.

    Ragweed

    • Ragweed is native to the Eastern, Southern and Southwestern areas of the United States. The weed produces large amounts of small, spiked pollen grains that resemble tiny balls of cactus. Ragweed pollen causes hay fever, asthma and skin rashes.

    Poison Oak

    • During the spring, most of the poison oak's pollen is dispersed by the wind. The voluminous amounts of airborne weed pollen may land on an individual's skin causing such allergy symptoms as hives and itching.

    Castor Bean

    • During World War II, castor beans were planted across the United States for their oil. Within two years, farmers were developing chronic and severe allergies, since the weed sheds a large amount of pollen during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Like ragweed, castor bean pollen causes hay fever symptoms, but it can also trigger severe asthma attacks.

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