Real-time pollen data for Frisco — updated daily.
Frisco's tree pollen season is extraordinarily long, beginning in December with mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) and extending through May. Mountain cedar is the most notorious North Texas tree allergen — it pollinates from mid-December through February, triggering what locals call "cedar fever," a syndrome so severe it mimics flu symptoms with congestion, headache, fatigue, and sore throat. While cedar fever is worst west of I-35 in the Hill Country, Frisco receives significant cedar pollen carried by south and southwest winds across the DFW metroplex. As cedar tapers in March, oak takes over as the dominant tree allergen — post oak and live oak produce massive pollen loads from March through April, coating cars, outdoor furniture, and every surface with visible yellow-green powder. Elm pollinates from late February through April. Ash and mulberry contribute from March through May. Pecan trees, deeply embedded in Texas culture and widespread across North Texas landscapes, release allergenic pollen from April through May. Cottonwood produces large visible puffs in spring that, while not highly allergenic themselves, carry other pollen grains. Frisco's designation as a Tree City USA since 2003 reflects extensive tree planting throughout the city's rapid suburban development — beautiful for property values, challenging for allergy sufferers.
Grass pollen is a major and prolonged allergen in Frisco. Bermuda grass is the dominant grass allergen across North Texas — it thrives in the hot, humid subtropical climate and is the primary lawn, park, athletic field, and roadside grass throughout Frisco's expansive suburban landscape. Johnson grass, a tall non-native species common in unmaintained areas and highway medians, produces highly allergenic pollen from May through September. Kentucky bluegrass, Timothy grass, and ryegrass contribute in irrigated lawns and managed landscapes. Frisco sits at the boundary of the Blackland Prairie and Cross Timbers ecological regions — the Blackland Prairie is predominantly native grassland with rich black clay soil, historically home to big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, and switchgrass. While native prairie grasses have been largely replaced by suburban development, remnant prairie patches and preserved areas like those at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve still release native grass pollen that supplements the allergen load from cultivated lawns. The sheer acreage of new sod installation from Frisco's explosive development creates particularly dense grass pollen concentrations in newer neighborhoods.
Ragweed is the dominant fall allergen in North Texas and Frisco is no exception. Ragweed season runs from August through November — significantly longer than in northern states where frost kills plants earlier. A single ragweed plant can produce up to one billion pollen grains, and the pollen can travel hundreds of miles on wind currents. North Texas ragweed season typically peaks in September and October. Pigweed (amaranth) is common in disturbed soil and construction sites — particularly relevant in Frisco where active development exposes bare earth that pigweed colonizes rapidly. Russian thistle, lamb's quarters, and dock contribute additional weed pollen. Mugwort and nettle are less prominent but present. The extensive construction activity across Frisco's still-developing land — the city was estimated at only 46 percent built out as of 2011 — means that weed-colonized vacant lots and construction margins are a persistent source of weed pollen that established neighborhoods in older cities don't experience at the same scale.
Frisco's humid subtropical climate — averaging 39 inches of annual rainfall with high summer humidity — creates ideal conditions for dust mites, which thrive in homes year-round. Indoor humidity during summer months is particularly high, requiring air conditioning that recirculates indoor allergens including dust mite particles, mold spores, pet dander, and cockroach allergen. Mold grows in HVAC systems, bathrooms, and anywhere moisture accumulates — North Texas humidity combined with air conditioning condensation creates persistent mold exposure. Many Frisco homes are relatively new construction with tight building envelopes that reduce natural ventilation, concentrating indoor allergens. The city's family-oriented demographics mean high rates of pet ownership, making cat and dog dander a significant perennial allergen. During the brief July-to-Labor Day respite from outdoor pollen, indoor allergens become the primary trigger for year-round allergy sufferers.
Severity: Moderate to High
Frisco's allergy year begins not in spring but in winter, with mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen peaking from mid-December through mid-February. While cedar density is highest in the Hill Country south of Frisco, prevailing winds carry cedar pollen across the entire DFW metroplex. Cedar fever produces flu-like symptoms — severe congestion, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and sometimes low-grade fever — that many newcomers to Texas mistake for actual illness. Elm pollen begins in late February, creating overlap with the tail end of cedar season. Indoor allergens — dust mites, mold, pet dander — are elevated as homes remain sealed during cooler weather.
Severity: High to Severe
Spring is Frisco's most intense allergy period. Oak pollen dominates from March through April, creating visible yellow-green coatings on every outdoor surface. Ash, mulberry, and pecan overlap from March through May. Grass pollen begins rising in April as Bermuda grass responds to warming temperatures. This multi-allergen overlap — trees and emerging grasses simultaneously — creates the year's worst pollen concentrations. The Blackland Prairie wildflower season adds beauty but also releases additional pollen. North Texas thunderstorms can trigger "thunderstorm asthma" events where downdrafts concentrate pollen at ground level and storm-related humidity causes pollen grains to rupture into smaller, more deeply penetrating fragments.
Severity: Low to Moderate
The July Fourth to Labor Day window is North Texas's closest approximation of an allergy break. Tree pollen has subsided and ragweed hasn't started. However, Bermuda grass and Johnson grass remain active, and the 96°F+ summer heat drives residents indoors where dust mites, mold, and pet dander take over as primary triggers. This is the optimal window to begin allergy treatment and build tolerance before the fall ragweed surge.
Severity: Moderate to High
Ragweed season begins in August and peaks in September and October. Unlike northern states where frost ends ragweed by October, North Texas's mild fall allows ragweed to persist into November. Pigweed, Russian thistle, and lamb's quarters contribute additional weed pollen. Fall mold spores from decomposing leaves add to the allergen burden as the abundant trees in Frisco's neighborhoods shed foliage. The ragweed-to-cedar transition from November into December means there is essentially no outdoor pollen-free window in fall — one season bleeds directly into the next, creating North Texas's notorious 10-month allergy year.
Frisco sits at the convergence of two distinct ecological regions — the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. This isn't just geographic trivia; it directly explains why Frisco's allergy season is worse than many other DFW suburbs. The Blackland Prairie contributes native grasses, ragweed, and open-land weeds. The Cross Timbers contributes dense post oak and blackjack oak forests along with associated tree pollen. Frisco residents get allergens from both ecosystems simultaneously. The Collin-Denton county line, which runs through Frisco, roughly follows this ecological transition. Residents in western Frisco (Denton County) may experience slightly different allergen profiles than those in eastern Frisco (Collin County) due to vegetation differences between the two regions.
Frisco grew from 6,000 people in 1990 to over 200,000 by 2020 — a 3,300 percent increase that made it the fastest-growing large city in America. This explosive growth has direct allergy consequences. Continuous construction across thousands of acres disturbs Blackland Prairie soil — the distinctive black clay becomes airborne dust that irritates airways and carries fungal spores. Newly graded lots are rapidly colonized by pigweed, ragweed, and other weed species that produce massive pollen loads in disturbed soil. New sod installation across tens of thousands of suburban lots creates unusually dense Bermuda grass coverage. And the Tree City USA plantings that line every new street and development, while aesthetically appealing, have created an urban forest that did not exist 25 years ago — adding tree pollen sources to what was historically open prairie. If you moved to Frisco and developed allergies you never had before, the transformed landscape is likely the cause.
Every winter, thousands of North Texas newcomers develop severe congestion, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and sometimes low-grade fever — and assume they have the flu. Cedar fever is actually an intense allergic reaction to Ashe juniper pollen, which pollinates from mid-December through February. While the heaviest cedar concentrations are in the Hill Country, prevailing winds carry cedar pollen across the entire DFW metroplex including Frisco. Cedar fever is one of the most severe pollen allergies in the country because Ashe juniper produces extraordinarily concentrated pollen — clouds of it are visible erupting from trees on windy winter days. If your "winter cold" returns every December through February, it is almost certainly cedar fever, and a board-certified allergist can confirm with blood testing and develop a treatment plan.
North Texas is prone to severe spring thunderstorms, and these storms can paradoxically worsen allergies rather than providing relief. Thunderstorm asthma occurs when storm outflows concentrate pollen at ground level and high humidity causes pollen grains to absorb moisture, swell, and rupture into tiny fragments that penetrate deep into airways. Standard pollen masks are ineffective against these sub-pollen particles. Thunderstorm asthma events have been documented worldwide, and North Texas's combination of high spring pollen counts and severe storm activity creates elevated risk. If your allergies worsen dramatically during or immediately after spring thunderstorms, this mechanism is the likely explanation. Having a rescue inhaler prescribed by an allergist is prudent during spring storm season.
North Texas allergy season runs approximately 10 months of the year — only the July Fourth to Labor Day window provides meaningful outdoor pollen relief. Cedar fever starts in December, tree pollen peaks March through May, ragweed dominates August through November, and the ragweed-to-cedar handoff in late November means there's no fall break either. For Frisco residents with multiple allergen sensitivities, this near-continuous exposure means that symptom management requires year-round treatment rather than seasonal medication. Over-the-counter antihistamines provide temporary relief but do nothing to address the underlying immune sensitivity. HeyAllergy's board-certified allergists can identify your specific triggers through blood testing and develop a comprehensive year-round treatment plan.
HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas — no need to fight Dallas North Tollway or Sam Rayburn Tollway traffic to reach a specialist office. Book a virtual consultation from your Frisco home, have allergy blood tests ordered at a convenient local lab, and receive a personalized treatment plan targeting the specific mix of cedar, oak, Bermuda grass, ragweed, dust mites, mold, or pet dander driving your symptoms. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building immune tolerance to your triggers. Most patients notice improvement within 3 to 6 months. Starting at $47 per month. HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans.
March through May is the worst pollen period, with overlapping oak, ash, mulberry, pecan tree pollen and rising Bermuda grass pollen. December through February brings cedar fever from mountain cedar pollen. September through October peaks for ragweed. North Texas has a 10-month allergy season with only July through Labor Day offering meaningful outdoor pollen relief.
The most common allergens are mountain cedar (Ashe juniper), oak, elm, ash, pecan, Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, ragweed, pigweed, dust mites, mold, and pet dander. Frisco sits where the Blackland Prairie meets the Cross Timbers region, exposing residents to allergens from both grassland and woodland ecosystems simultaneously.
Frisco's explosive growth from 6,000 people in 1990 to over 220,000 today transformed open prairie into dense suburban development with extensive tree plantings, new sod lawns, and active construction that disturbs allergen-rich Blackland Prairie soil. Many newcomers encounter allergens — particularly mountain cedar, specific oak species, and Bermuda grass — that they were never exposed to in their previous location, triggering new sensitization.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. Book a virtual consultation from anywhere in the state, have allergy blood tests ordered at a local lab, and start a personalized treatment plan without visiting a clinic. No referral needed and no waitlist.
HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy uses customized liquid drops placed under your tongue daily containing precise doses of the specific allergens triggering your symptoms — whether cedar, oak, Bermuda grass, ragweed, dust mites, or pet dander. Over time, your immune system builds tolerance, reducing allergic reactions and medication dependence. Most patients notice improvement within 3 to 6 months.
HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans, including United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Oscar, and Tricare. Contact your insurance provider with Tax ID: 85-0834175 to confirm your specific telemedicine coverage.
Nearly. North Texas has a 10-month allergy season. Cedar pollen runs December through February, tree pollen March through May, grass pollen April through October, and ragweed August through November. Only the July-to-Labor Day window offers meaningful outdoor pollen relief. Indoor allergens — dust mites, mold, pet dander — are continuous year-round.
Cedar fever is an intense allergic reaction to Ashe juniper (mountain cedar) pollen that peaks December through February. Symptoms mimic the flu — severe congestion, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and sometimes low-grade fever. It is not an infection and antibiotics won't help. A board-certified allergist can confirm cedar allergy through blood testing and develop a treatment plan including sublingual immunotherapy to build long-term tolerance.
Frisco — population approximately 220,000 — is one of America's most remarkable growth stories. In 1990, this was a small farming community of 6,000 people at a train stop on the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, surrounded by Blackland Prairie grassland. By 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked it the fastest-growing large city in the nation, with a population that had increased over 3,300 percent in three decades. Today Frisco is an affluent DFW suburb with a median household income exceeding $124,000, the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, and a landscape that has been completely transformed from open prairie to dense suburban development. That transformation has profound consequences for allergy sufferers. The allergen environment that Frisco residents experience today was largely engineered — planted, graded, irrigated, and landscaped — within the last 25 years.
Frisco straddles Collin and Denton counties at the convergence of two distinct North Texas ecological regions. The Blackland Prairie — named for its rich, dark clay soil — historically covered eastern Frisco with native tallgrass species including big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, and switchgrass, interspersed with elm, cedar, and pecan trees. The Cross Timbers region to the west featured dense post oak and blackjack oak woodlands with an understory of native grasses and shrubs. This ecological boundary means Frisco residents are exposed to allergens from both grassland and woodland ecosystems. The Blackland Prairie contributes native grass pollen, ragweed, pigweed, and open-land weeds. The Cross Timbers contributes concentrated oak pollen and associated tree allergens. Few other DFW suburbs sit at this precise ecological intersection, which helps explain why many Frisco residents report worse allergies than people in neighboring cities.
Frisco's rapid development has created an allergy phenomenon unique to boomtown suburbs. Thousands of acres of Blackland Prairie have been graded for subdivisions, commercial developments, schools, and roads. This construction activity disturbs rich black clay soil that contains fungal spores including Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus — mold species that become airborne when soil is excavated and moved. Graded lots that sit vacant between development phases are rapidly colonized by pioneer weed species — pigweed, ragweed, Russian thistle, and lamb's quarters — that are among the most allergenic plants in North America. These weeds thrive in disturbed soil and produce massive pollen loads, far exceeding what the undisturbed prairie or established neighborhoods generate. Each new subdivision adds thousands of square feet of Bermuda grass sod, creating dense grass pollen sources that compound year after year. And Frisco's Tree City USA designation since 2003 means extensive ornamental tree plantings along every street and in every park — creating an urban forest canopy that produces tree pollen where 25 years ago there was only prairie. The city that people move to for quality of life has inadvertently engineered one of North Texas's densest allergen environments.
North Texas is infamous for its near-continuous allergy season, and Frisco experiences the full cycle. Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen begins in mid-December and runs through February, causing cedar fever — a syndrome so severe that newcomers routinely mistake it for influenza. Oak, elm, ash, mulberry, and pecan pollen overlap from February through May, creating the year's worst multi-allergen period in spring. Bermuda grass and Johnson grass pollen dominate from April through October. Ragweed begins in August and persists through November — far longer than in northern states because North Texas's mild autumn delays frost. The ragweed-to-cedar handoff in late November means there is no meaningful fall pollen break. Only the approximately eight weeks from early July through Labor Day offer true outdoor pollen relief, and even then Bermuda grass remains active. Indoor allergens — dust mites, mold, pet dander — fill the brief summer outdoor break. For residents with multiple sensitivities, Frisco's allergy year is essentially continuous.
Cedar fever deserves special attention because it catches every transplant to North Texas completely off guard. The Ashe juniper tree — locally called mountain cedar — is an evergreen native to the Texas Hill Country and Edwards Plateau south of DFW. When cold fronts pass through Texas from mid-December through February, male juniper trees release enormous quantities of pollen. The clouds of pollen erupting from trees are visible to the naked eye and have been captured in viral videos. While the heaviest concentrations are in Central Texas, prevailing winds carry cedar pollen across the entire DFW metroplex including Frisco. Cedar fever symptoms include severe nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, fatigue, sore throat, itchy watery eyes, and sometimes low-grade fever — a presentation that closely mimics influenza or a severe cold. The key differentiator is timing: if your "winter illness" appears every December through February and doesn't respond to cold medications, it is almost certainly cedar allergy.
Frisco receives approximately 39 inches of rainfall annually and experiences high humidity during summer months — the comfort index based on humidity is only 25 out of 100. This humidity creates ideal conditions for dust mites, which require relative humidity above 50 percent to thrive. Most Frisco homes run air conditioning from May through October, creating sealed environments that recirculate dust mite particles, mold spores, and pet dander. HVAC systems in North Texas homes are a known reservoir for mold growth — condensation on cooling coils and in drain pans provides persistent moisture. Many Frisco homes are relatively new construction with tight building envelopes designed for energy efficiency, which reduces natural ventilation and concentrates indoor allergens. The city's family-oriented demographics and high homeownership rates translate to high rates of pet ownership, making cat and dog dander a ubiquitous perennial allergen. For allergy sufferers, the indoor environment in Frisco can be as challenging as outdoors.
HeyAllergy connects Frisco residents with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas — providing expert allergy care without fighting Dallas North Tollway or Sam Rayburn Tollway traffic to reach a specialist. A virtual consultation from your Frisco home eliminates waiting rooms and scheduling delays. Allergy blood tests are ordered at a convenient local lab, and a personalized treatment plan is developed based on your specific triggers — whether cedar, oak, Bermuda grass, ragweed, dust mites, mold, or pet dander. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building your immune system's tolerance to the specific allergens driving your symptoms. In a city with a 10-month allergy season spanning cedar fever through ragweed, treating the underlying immune sensitivity is far more effective than cycling through seasonal antihistamines. HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans. Starting at $47 per month, with most patients noticing improvement within 3 to 6 months.