Suffer from Spring Allergies? Try These Hypoallergenic Flowers

When the world comes into full color in the spring, do your sinuses feel the need to retreat? Hayfever is a common allergy that affects around 20% of people at one point in their life. If you have spring allergies, the beauty of a floral arrangement can mean an extra dose of allergy medicine or even forfeiting the gift.

However, if you get an arrangement with hypoallergenic flowers, it's possible to enjoy the sight and smell of seasonal blooms without worrying about itchy eyes and a runny nose. Here are some of the best hypoallergenic flowers that are friendly to people with hayfever.

The Meaning of Hypoallergenic

"Hypoallergenic” describes any item that causes fewer allergic reactions compared to similar items in its class. This term applies to everything from skincare products to dog breeds. Naturally, there are also hypoallergenic varieties of flowers. In medical terms, “hypo” means “below” and allergenic means “to cause an allergic reaction”. Therefore, it’s important to acknowledge that a hypoallergenic flower has lower levels of allergies than the typical flower — but it is not devoid of triggers.

Hypoallergenic flowers either have sticky pollen that doesn’t fly off easily into the air or have less pollen than typical flowers. When there are little to no allergens released into the air, the flower is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Generally, if the plant is hybridized, it is less likely to trigger allergies. For example, the dahlia is a well-known allergy trigger, but its hybridized variation has sticky pollen. Single-flower baby’s breath is a common allergy culprit, but its hybrid “double” form is has a low pollen count.

If you or someone you know has a strong pollen allergy, don’t fret — these hypoallergenic flowers will still make excellent gifts without requiring tissues or medication.

Bouquets inspired by Pantone's Color of the Year

Orchids

Not only are orchids gorgeous to look at and low-maintenance, but they can also last for months since they come in potted form. Orchids are known to be hypoallergenic so they won’t aggravate allergies in your home or office.

Orchids have sticky pollen that has to be intentionally disturbed to get into the air. If you have a pollen allergy, it will be difficult to get a strong reaction from this flower alone. Orchids are also easy to care for in potted form when you follow basic care instructions.

Our orchid collection is a continually evolving selection of potted orchid gifts. Browse this category to find orchids in various colors to suit countless occasions.

Roses

Roses are some of the most well-known flowers in the world, so the fact that they’re hypoallergenic is a major plus. These universal flowers come in many colors for a variety of occasions, from romance to offering condolences. Roses are low-pollen flowers that look beautiful in single-stem bouquets or in arrangements with other hypoallergenic flowers like carnations and hydrangeas.

To get just roses, order roses by the stem. This ensures that you get an arrangement that is purely hypoallergenic.

Peonies

This multi-petaled flower with an iconic cupped shape is one of the most popular flowers in the world. Available in stunning colors like red, pink, and cream, peonies are jaw-dropping additions to any bouquet — and they have thick, sticky pollen that doesn’t fill the room with allergens.

Irises

The iris is a fragrant and eye-catching springtime flower that is friendly toward people with allergies. Its pollen is particularly heavy and stays locked deep in the flower’s long petals. The iris can be found in a stunning array of colors like blue, white, yellow, and bi-color options, which keeps your hypoallergenic arrangements interesting.

Hydrangeas

The hydrangea is a deeply-loved flower for its color variety and multiple tiny blooms formed into a conical shape. They add depth to a floral arrangement and a texture variety that takes a bouquet to a higher level. And, wouldn't you know — this flower has pollen that is sticky enough to stay on the flower and not end up in your nose!

Tulips

This graceful flower has a low pollen count and comes in many variations to keep your bouquets fresh. You can find a diversity of arrangements with traditional single tulips, multi-petaled double tulips, exotic parrot tulips, and more. The low level of pollen is more likely to keep allergies at bay so that you can beautify the room with the colors of spring.

Carnations

Carnations are a robust and widely available flower that also has a low pollen count. In fact, without bees, it’d be practically impossible for these flowers to be pollinated in nature! Since it’s beautiful and has a long vase life, you can’t go wrong with giving this flower to anyone — especially a person with allergies. This flower looks attractive alone in a single-stem bouquet or as a supplemental ruffled texture to a more complex arrangement.

Snapdragons

Snapdragons have rows of multiple snout-shaped blooms that grow vertically to create a stunning string of color. Take a look at our Buttercream bouquet with snapdragons, for instance. This line flower is commonly added to bouquets to bring a feathery texture and extra height. They also don’t shed a lot of pollen, which makes them a low-risk bloom for any person with allergies.

Dried Flowers

If even the slightest amount of pollen can tickle your nose, then go for something without any pollen at all. Our dried bouquets offer a vast variety of arrangements that range from delicate and graceful to bold and impactful. Elements in these arrangements can be dyed in many colors to create a creative palette of color that lasts for months or even years with consistent care.

Cacti + Succulents

To avoid any possibility of sniffles, think outside of the box and give a cactus or succulent without flowers. The Phoebe is one of our particular favorites for its adorable unicorn planter and ultra-cute 3.5” succulent plant that needs minimal care to thrive.

Flowers to Avoid

Now that you know the flowers that are less likely to trigger allergies, here are the top flowers on the other end of the spectrum to avoid. Keep these out of your arrangements to decrease the chance of a reaction. Overall, these flowers have a lot of loose, dry pollen that easily fills the air.

Asters
Non-Hybrid Baby’s Breaths
Non-Hybrid Dahlias
Daisies
Chamomile
Flowers
Chrysanthemums
Sunflowers

With so many low-pollen and zero-pollen options, it’s easy to find a floral arrangement that will impress someone without triggering allergies. Make this next gift one that will stay on display without needing to be near a tissue box.

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