Is it allergy season in Louisiana?

Louisiana's subtropical climate creates one of the country's most relentless allergy environments. The Gulf Coast's year-round warmth means no true winter reset — oak season begins in February, transitions seamlessly into grass by April, and ragweed lingers into October. Critically, high humidity means mold spores — themselves a potent allergen — are elevated simultaneously with pollen, creating a compounding effect that sufferers in drier climates never experience. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are particularly challenging for this reason.

Louisiana's geography — from the Mississippi Delta and Gulf Coast lowlands to the upland pine forests of the north — creates meaningful regional variation. The southern parishes experience the longest season and the highest humidity-driven mold overlap; northern Louisiana near Shreveport sees a slightly shorter season more similar to Arkansas and Texas.

New Orleans / Gulf Coast

Subtropical humidity and the longest season

New Orleans has no true pollen-free month. Oak and sweet gum begin in February; Bermuda grass extends through summer; ragweed runs through October. The city sits below sea level, limiting air circulation on still days. Mold spores compound the allergy burden year-round.

Oak · Feb–MayGrass · Apr–SepMold year-round

Baton Rouge / River Parishes

Mississippi River humidity amplifies counts

Baton Rouge sits along the Mississippi, where river-corridor humidity keeps pollen airborne at higher concentrations. The industrial corridor's urban heat island can advance tree pollen timing. Heavy oak in spring transitions to Bermuda grass through summer.

Oak · Feb–MayBermuda grass · May–SepRagweed · Aug–Oct

Lafayette / Acadiana

Coastal prairie grass dominates summer

Lafayette and the surrounding Acadiana region is dominated by coastal prairie and rice agriculture, which drives substantial grass pollen from May through September. The area's flat, low-lying terrain allows pollen to concentrate. Ragweed is significant in fall.

Grass · May–Sep (coastal prairie)Oak · Feb–AprRagweed · Aug–Oct

Shreveport / North Louisiana

Red River Valley with a shorter season

Shreveport's position in the Red River Valley — closer to Texas and Arkansas than the Gulf — gives it a slightly shorter, more compressed allergy season. Oak and cedar elm dominate spring; ragweed is intense but wraps up by mid-October. Humidity is lower than the Gulf Coast.

Trees · Mar–MayGrass · May–AugRagweed · Aug–Oct

Each row shows a full year of pollen for one region — trees in blue, grasses in green, weeds in amber. Look for where all three rows go quiet at the same time — that's your window.

Oral Allergy Syndrome (also called pollen-food allergy syndrome) causes tingling or mild itching in the mouth when you eat certain raw foods during the relevant pollen season. The proteins in the food are similar enough to the pollen protein that your immune system cross-reacts. Cooking usually deactivates the offending protein, so the same food cooked may cause no reaction.

Oak & Sweet Gum pollen

Stone fruits & apples

Apples, peaches, cherries, plums, pears, almonds, hazelnuts, carrots, celery

Peak risk February–May in Louisiana — one of the country's earliest and longest oak seasons. The Gulf Coast's year-round warmth means oak pollen can appear as early as late January in warm years.

Bermuda & Rye grass pollen

Tomatoes, potatoes & melons

Tomatoes, potatoes, kiwi, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges (in some cases)

Peak risk April–September. Louisiana's long, hot summers extend Bermuda grass season well past what's seen in most states. Coastal prairie regions near Lafayette have particularly high grass counts.

Ragweed

Melons & bananas

Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, banana, zucchini, cucumber, sunflower seeds

Peak risk August–October. Louisiana ragweed season runs later than most Southern states — New Orleans can see elevated counts through October. High humidity does not suppress ragweed as it does some other pollens.

Not medical advice. If you suspect OAS, speak with an allergist — it can sometimes progress, and symptoms that extend beyond the mouth should be evaluated.