Cottonwood / Poplar

Cottonwood trees are famous for their fluffy white seeds that fill the air in late spring, but this 'cotton' is not the allergenic part. The actual pollen is released weeks earlier and is invisible. Many people blame the cotton fluff for their allergies, but their symptoms are usually caused by grass pollen that peaks at the same time the cotton is flying.

If you're allergic to cottonwood / poplar pollen, you may also react to:

• Willow (same family Salicaceae)
• Aspen (same genus Populus)

• The white fluffy 'cotton' is NOT pollen — it's the seed dispersal mechanism. The actual pollen was released weeks earlier.
• If you sneeze when the cotton flies, you're likely reacting to grass pollen, which peaks at the same time.
• True cottonwood pollen allergy exists but is less common than people think.
• Cottonwood pollen is released in March-April, while the cotton fluff appears in May-June.