For many, allergies can be more than just a nuisance. Instead of fresh air and new beginnings, those with allergies see springtime as the onset of wheezing, sniffling, itchy, watery eyes, and general discomfort. Allergies can really take a strain on your lifestyle – especially if you love flowers. Fortunately, there are floral alternatives for those who are allergic to common springtime blooms.
While many flowers are aggravating for allergy sufferers, there are just as many that can liven their garden or home space without irritating their senses. And, no they’re not made from silk or plastic!
Here are a few of hypoallergenic flowers to consider for those flower-loving folks with seasonal allergies.
Lilies
You can’t go wrong with any member of the lily family. These guys aren’t officially pollen-free as a species, but it’s relatively easy to remove the pollen before taking these lovely blooms indoors. Additionally, some lily bulbs are bred with no or low pollen. Try calla lilies for their unique cupped shape or Asiatic lilies in their variety of colors like red, orange, and pink.
Hydrangeas
The hydrangea is one of our faves. We use it in some of our best Bouqs–its big, bushy blossoms are especially loveable for their ability to look great with just about any flower, but they’re also a real boon for allergy sufferers. The flowers come in a range of springy hues–blue, purple, pink, and white–and pack a real solid punch when it comes to your decorating game.
Orchids
Orchids, of course, do have pollen. However, they’re one of the most hypoallergenic flowers out there. The delicate flowers have a sticky powder, so it’ll take more than a bit of wind to push that dust into the air. Instead, orchid pollen just sits there, waiting for a pollinator, like a bee, to come and take it away.
In the meantime, the pollen remains intact, concealed inside tiny pollen pouches. While orchids present some challenges, care-wise, their ability to hang onto their pollen makes it worth the extra effort.
Tulips
Okay, fine. It is possible to be allergic to tulips. Spring is the time when the broadest range of tulips is available, but many varieties are available all year long. Like lilies, some varieties are pollen-free, while others can be made pollen-free by trimming the tips of each stamen.
Roses
Roses are definitely at the top of our list. They’re easy to find, they come in a million different colors, and save for Valentine’s day, they’re pretty darn affordable.
What’s more, roses don’t bother most allergy sufferers. A word to the wise, you may want to avoid certain varieties — the strong scent can trigger headaches in people sensitive to strong smells. Still, most commercially grown roses have minimal fragrance and will look great in your home without making a stink.
Daffodils
Daffodils are considered “allergy-friendly,” since plants with showy flowers are generally pollinated by insects rather than the wind. Daffodils contain minimal pollen, and as such, conditions like allergic rhinitis and asthma won’t flare up around these sunny yellow blooms.
That said, you may want to be careful about handling the flowers with bare hands. Contact dermatitis from touching daffodil sap is pretty common and can result in hives.
Flowers allergy sufferers should avoid, of course, flowers with high pollen counts. Daisies, chamomile, chrysanthemums, and some types of sunflowers (notice a pattern? The pollen is just out in the open) are among the most irritating blooms.
Filter out the Pollen
Shop by flower to find a Bouq that works with your allergies–we’ve got everything from tulips to orchids to lilies. While we can’t guarantee you won’t have an allergic reaction to any of the flowers mentioned above, our recommendation is to look for Bouqs with enclosed pollen. Think roses and their tightly wound buds–not wide open middles that blow pollen around with the slightest gust.
You might not want to invite sunflowers or jasmine into your home, but there are plenty of sniffle-free blossoms to choose from.
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