The Plants to Avoid: Botanical and Common Names: The following plants can cause problems for people with allergies and should be avoided. In general, it’s a good idea to avoid any plant which releases its pollen into the air, rather than relying on insects for pollination. For sensitive individuals, it is also a good idea to avoid anything that gives off a strong scent, such as certain rose varieties.
Flowering Plants
- Amaranthus caudatus – love lies bleeding, tassel flower
- Chrysanthemum – chrysanthemum, daisy (numerous varieties)
- Thalictrum – buttercup
- Aster – aster
- Daucus carota – Queen Anne’s lace, wild carrot
- Doronicum – leopard’s bane
- Alyssum – alyssum
- Leontopodium alpinium – edelweiss
- Tanacetum – tansy, painted daisy
- Celosia – cockscomb
- Echinacea purpurea – purple coneflower
- Syringa – lilac
- Matthiola – stocks
- Lavendula – lavender
Lavender Shrubs/Bushes/Herbs
- Artemesia – wormwood, tarragon
- Ligustrum – privet hedge
- Hydrangea paniculata & quercifolia – pee-gee and oak leaf hydrangea
Trees
- Cryptomeria japonica – Japanese cedar
Grasses
- Carex – sedge
Vines and Climbing Plants
- Hedera – ivy
Now that you’ve rooted out all the allergy-offenders from your garden, it’s time to check out our list of sneeze-free options.
See Also: Low-Allergy Plants
Sources: Allergy-Free Gardening, by Thomas Leo Ogren, Creating a Low-Allergen Garden, by Lucy Huntington and Peter Prakke, Horticulturalist.
