Is it allergy season in Texas?

Texas's allergy calendar is unlike any other state's. Mountain cedar — technically Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), not a true cedar — unleashes one of the most intense pollen events in North America from December through February. Locals call it "cedar fever," and for good reason: the pollen can cause fever-like symptoms alongside the usual nasal misery. Once cedar fades, elm, ash, and oak take over through spring, Bermuda grass dominates summer, and ragweed closes the year. Most Texans get at most four to six weeks of genuine relief — and that window depends entirely on where they live.

Texas spans 800 miles from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley — roughly the distance from Boston to Chicago. The Hill Country's Ashe juniper belt, the Gulf Coast's humidity-amplified mold load, the Metroplex's tree canopy, and El Paso's desert olive groves all create distinct allergen environments that reward knowing which one you're in.

North Texas / DFW

Oak, elm, and cedar converge in the Metroplex

Dallas-Fort Worth sits far enough north to catch cedar fever, though less intensely than the Hill Country. The bigger story is the Metroplex's massive urban tree canopy — elm starts in February, oak peaks in April, and the sheer volume of trees in one of the country's fastest-growing metro areas means spring counts regularly hit Very High. Bermuda grass runs hard through summer, and ragweed carries the season into October.

Cedar · Dec–Feb Elm · Feb–Mar Oak · Mar–May Bermuda · Jun–Aug Ragweed · Sep–Oct

Hill Country

Ground zero for cedar fever — the most intense winter pollen event in North America

The limestone hills between San Antonio and Austin are blanketed with Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), and when it releases in December, the pollen cloud is visible from a distance — a literal green-gray haze that rolls across the landscape. Residents describe it as a cold with a fever that isn't a cold. Cedar counts in Kerrville and New Braunfels regularly set national records. Once cedar fades in February, oak and grass carry the season forward.

Cedar · Dec–Feb (VH) Oak · Mar–Apr Grass · May–Aug Ragweed · Sep–Oct

Houston / Gulf Coast

Year-round pressure amplified by humidity and mold

Houston's subtropical humidity creates a compounded allergy burden: pollen plus mold, nearly year-round. Oak season begins in February and overlaps with Ligustrum (privet), an ornamental hedge imported from Asia and now ubiquitous in Houston neighborhoods — it's one of the most potent spring allergens many Houston residents have never heard of. Bermuda grass runs through September, and the Gulf's moisture keeps mold counts elevated even on clear days.

Oak · Feb–May Ligustrum · Mar–Apr Bermuda · Apr–Sep Mold · year-round Ragweed · Aug–Oct

West Texas / El Paso

Olive, mulberry, and desert spring in the Franklin Mountains corridor

El Paso's unique geography — hemmed in by the Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande valley — funnels wind and concentrates pollen. Olive trees, planted widely as drought-tolerant ornamentals, are the city's most notorious allergen and rank among the highest olive pollen counts recorded anywhere in the US. Mulberry, imported for shade, contributes a fierce March–April wave. Cedar from the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert is milder here than in the Hill Country, and the dry climate means mold is less of a factor.

Olive · Mar–May (very high) Mulberry · Mar–Apr Grass · May–Aug Ragweed · Sep–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 & Cedar pollen

Stone fruits & apples

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

Peak risk March–May in TX. Texas's heavy spring oak season in the Hill Country and Metroplex makes April the riskiest month for stone fruit sensitivity.

Grass pollen

Tomatoes, potatoes & melons

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

Peak risk June–August. Bermuda grass is the dominant Texas grass allergen — July is typically the worst overlap with summer produce season.

Ragweed

Melons & bananas

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

Peak risk September–October. Texas has significant ragweed pressure statewide, heaviest in the eastern half — the same weeks when late-season melons are at their best.

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.