Pollen performs a simple function – reproduction – but for many humans it leads to misery.
This year, pollen levels are likely to double or triple those of last year and the highest for at least 10 years. The heavy rains and recent sunny days have provoked an explosion of flowering and masses of fine yellow dust. Mid-May to mid-June will be torture month for many when levels will total 80% of pollen production for the entire year. The burning heart of Spain – Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Extramadura, inland Andalucía and the Levante will be the areas worst affected.
In Spain some 22% of the population suffers with hay fever: it’s a hugely growing problem. It’s believed that half of the population will be affected within the next 20 years.
Pollen count readings refer to the amount of pollen grains per m2 in 24
hours. Logically, it is highest on warm, dry and windy days and lower
on cool, humid days. Normally worst in the early morning and evening, high mid-day temperatures waft the pollen high on thermal currents, to descend again later. Pollen has been found 5km up in the air and 650 kms out to sea, so there’s little escape! Furthermore, 46 allergic pollens have been identified, of which 18 are found in Spain.
The world-wide distribution of plants has changed the traditional ‘pollen’ plants, often extending the season of suffering! But, in general, the season is kicked off by the flowering of the cupressus family (Italian cypress, Arizona cypress etc.), platanus oriental or plane trees, planted along many Spanish streets and, of course, the pine trees. The lines of olive trees marching across our landscape make their hefty contribution from mid-April to the end of May and, finally, the grasses spew out their pollen in May and June. Eucalyptus, mimosa, carob, willow and mastics all add their pollen clouds! As you can see, these are the trees that surround us and many of our most common weeds, and all of the daisy type, are also wind pollinated.
As gardeners, there are some measures that we can take to restrict pollen in our gardens. It’s, clearly, wind-borne pollen that causes most problems and these amount to some 10% of our plants. It’s a very hit and miss method so huge amounts of pollen are issued: one plant alone can produce 1 million grains of pollen a day.
Some flowers, such as roses, are what we call ‘perfect’ because they bear male and female parts within the same flower, thus the pollen doesn’t travel far. Imperfect flowers split into two groups – monoecious and dioecious. Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers but on the same plant. Sweetcorn is an example, with its male tassel at the top of the cob and the female flowers within the silky lining; the pollen only has a short distance to travel. Dioecious plants have male and female flowers on different plants and these are the ones that cause us most problems. The pollen has to travel great distances to find a partner. Some common garden examples of this are the date palm, cycad palm, pine, false pepper tree, and persimmon.
It can be difficult to know if you have a male or female tree until fruiting takes place, but if you are sold something as ‘seedless’ or ‘fruitless’ it is certainly a male. Male plants are often used in street plantings because they are less messy: no falling fruit or seeds means less maintenance. But, these male plants produce huge amounts of pollen.
If you’re a sufferer, plan your garden carefully. Don’t use high pollen plants adjacent to a window or along a frequently-used pathway; site them far away and down wind. A high pollen plant close to the house is ten times more likely to give you symptoms than if it is placed far away. Keep your shears handy. Hedges of box or privet, for instance, need trimming to prevent flowering. Lawns should be shorn before flowering.
Equally, it’s important to differentiate between wind-pollinating plants and those pollinated by insects or birds. Wind-pollinated plants tend to be rather dull looking – they don’t need an intermediary for their love affair – only a good wind. So their flowers are small, insignificant, often greenish-white. Conversely, brightly coloured flowers are almost always insect pollinated; think of hibiscus or the brilliant red bottle brush. The passion vine with its intricate flowers is another good example. The use of scent is another tool – think of bees buzzing around lavender, low clumps of thyme or orange blossom. The other groups of plants designed for insect pollination are the trumpet-shaped flowers – the pollinator is ‘invited in’. There are a lot in this class – campsis grandiflora, the bignonia family, daturas, brugmansias and thunbergia grandiflora to name a few. Some flowers are ingeniously clever – think of the snap-dragon, antirrhinum, which has a small landing pad so the insect can rest whilst probing the flower.
These types of flowers have larger grains of pollen which are sticky so they adhere to visiting insects. Produced in much smaller quantities, they are unlikely to molest us.
So, when you plan your garden, go for the colourful, the flamboyant, the extravagant flowerers. Have a fab-looking garden and one that doesn’t cause you too many hay-fever problems.
Spring has arrived! Enjoy it!
BE ONE STEP AHEAD!
We are now sending out e-mails/texts to our customers to inform them of upcoming events, new products, plant deliveries, special offers etc. If you would like to be included please send your e-mail/mobile number and we will ensure you are added to our mailing lists.
Bryan Stapley is setting up a new gardening club in Cómpeta. Monthly meetings will be held at the garden centre and I’ll be giving a specialist talk and questions/answers session. For details contact him on 616747289 or bryanstapley40@yahoo.co.uk
Lorraine Cavanagh has lived in Spain for 24 years; a mother, grandmother and hispanófila, her passions are plants, the environment, food and drink, and travelling within Spain. A landscape gardener and writer, she’s always happy to give advice. Call and see her at Viveros Florena, 2km from Cómpeta down the Sayalonga Road – have a free coffee and cake in their tea-rooms.
Hours: October – May, 10 – 4, closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Her book Lorraine Cavanagh’s Mediterranean Garden Plantshas been nicknamed ‘the bible’. The new edition at €24.90 is now generally available throughout Spain.
Tel: 689928201 E-mail: florenaspain@hotmail.com and check us out on Facebook.
