According to Wyndly.com– a website specializing in allergy treatments– Maryland has been ranked as the “worst state for pollen allergies.” Following closely behind are Delaware, Kansas, Virginia, and Connecticut. Despite its generally mild weather and the experience of all four seasons, Maryland residents face significant challenges from seasonal pollen, indoor allergens, and the region’s diverse flora.
Per Wyndly, though the winters provide a temporary reprieve from outdoor pollen, the rest of the year witnesses thriving trees, grasses, and weeds that release allergens across multiple seasons.
• Spring: Allergy sufferers face an onslaught of pollen from oak, hickory, ash, and maple trees.
• Summer: Grass pollen is the primary concern, with Bermuda grass being the biggest offender.
• Fall: Ragweed dominates the season, along with additional allergens from wormwood, sagebrush, orache, and amaranth.
• Winter: While cold temperatures considerably reduce pollen production, indoor allergens such as mold, dust mites, and pet dander remain a concern.
Different areas within Maryland have their own sets of allergenic plants. For example:
Hagerstown/Cumberland: Residents can expect tree allergens from oak, hickory, walnut, ash, and mulberry. Grass allergies often arise from bent, sweet vernal, and timothy grass, while ragweed and amaranth are common weed triggers.
Baltimore/Rockville: The main allergens include tree pollens from oak, hickory, and ash, and grass allergens originating from Bermuda grass. Weed pollen from orache, wormwood, amaranth, and sagebrush also contributes.
Annapolis/Waldorf: In these regions, oak, maple, cedar, and willow trees are typical pollen producers. Bermuda, bent, fescue, and rye grasses, along with ragweed and Russian thistle in the weed category, are primary sources.
Ocean City/Salisbury: Here, oak, maple, walnut, willow, and cedar trees are responsible for tree pollen. Bermuda, timothy, and orchard grasses are the usual grass allergens, and ragweed, amaranth, and sagebrush account for weed-related issues.
Wyndly shares that residents across Maryland may experience various allergy symptoms, including:
• Runny nose
• Coughing and congestion
• Sneezing
• Headaches
• Scratchy or watery eyes
• Itchy throat
• Hives
• Asthma symptoms