Hoping someone can help me! Question: What tree bloomed today (March 11, 2014)? I have a tree allergy but I don't know what it is. For the past 2 years I have had an intense sneezing/sinus allergy right at this time for about 2-3 weeks. Today was the first of the symptoms so I know it's starting up. I can't find a specific 'tree schedule' pertaining to the Fraser Valley/Surrey/Vancouver. My guesses are Birch or maybe even cherry blossom? Thank-you for any direction!
A few days ago I was looking out my window. I thought there was fog rolling in around the Douglas firs, but then I realized it was clouds of pollen falling from the trees. Beautiful. Conifers are often a big problem for people with allergies. I think quite a few plants are shedding pollen now though.
My guess would be an alder Alnus - they are shedding pollen around now, and are allergenic. Hi Eric - I'd think it is too early yet for Douglas-fir to be shedding pollen; around here, it is well into late April before it sheds. Among conifers, I've also not heard of Pinaceae species being a big problem for people with allergies. Several Cupressaceae (notably Juniperus and Cryptomeria) are though, but mostly they shed pollen a bit earlier (often in February). Not sure when Western Redcedar Thuja plicata sheds, that might be about now, and could be a candidate too?
Checked up - here, Western Redcedar is shedding pollen now. I'd doubt timings are much different in southwest BC, so that has to be considered as a candidate too. Douglas-fir is not shedding yet, and won't be for some time (cones still tightly in bud). Ditto Lawson's Cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (pollen cones still closed).
For clarification - cedars pollinate in autumn (note that Western Redcedar Thuja plicata, despite popular misconceptions, is not a cedar Cedrus).
