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*Disclaimer: HeyAllergy® provides all clinical services furnished to patients in California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania. In New York, clinical services are furnished by Hey Allergy Medicine.
Real-time pollen data for Houston — updated daily. Powered by board-certified allergists.
Houston's tree pollen season starts earlier than most U.S. cities. Mountain cedar pollen blows in from the Texas Hill Country as early as December, triggering what locals call "cedar fever" — symptoms so severe they mimic the flu. By February, live oak becomes the dominant tree allergen, producing heavy yellow-green pollen that coats cars, porches, and outdoor surfaces across Harris County. Elm, ash, pine, and box elder also contribute significantly. Box elder pollen is among the most allergenic of all tree pollens and peaks from January through May.
What makes Houston different: Cedar pollen travels hundreds of miles from the Hill Country on northwest winds, meaning Houstonians suffer from an allergen that doesn't even grow locally.
Bermuda grass is Houston's most problematic grass allergen, found in virtually every lawn, park, and roadside median across the metro area. Johnson grass — a tall, aggressive species common in undeveloped areas and along bayous — produces heavy pollen loads from May through September. Bahia grass and ryegrass round out the major grass triggers. Houston's long, hot growing season means grass pollen remains active for seven months or more.
Houston's year-round warmth and frequent rainfall create ideal conditions for aggressive grass growth, keeping pollen levels elevated well into October most years.
Ragweed is Houston's most potent fall allergen, with a single plant capable of producing up to one billion pollen grains per season. Pigweed (amaranth), marsh elder, and lamb's quarters also spike during fall. Houston's warm, humid autumn extends weed pollen season later than in northern cities — ragweed can remain active into late November.
Tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf can temporarily clear pollen but also create massive mold blooms in the weeks following flooding, compounding allergy problems.
Houston's humidity — averaging 75% or higher for much of the year — creates ideal breeding conditions for dust mites and indoor mold. Dust mites thrive in bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpet, reaching peak populations during Houston's humid summer months. Mold is a major year-round concern: Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Cladosporium are commonly found in Houston homes, particularly in bathrooms, kitchens, and air conditioning systems. Pet dander from cats and dogs is the third major indoor trigger, affecting an estimated 30% of allergy sufferers.
For many Houston residents, indoor allergens cause more persistent symptoms than outdoor pollen because there is no seasonal break — the humidity that fuels them never fully subsides.
While most of the country is in allergy remission, Houston's season is already underway. Mountain cedar pollen — one of the most potent tree allergens in North America — blows in from Central Texas starting in December and peaks in January. By February, live oak and elm trees begin pollinating locally, overlapping with the tail end of cedar season.
Top allergens: Mountain cedar, live oak, elm
Severity: Moderate to high (cedar can reach "Very High" in January)
Tip: Cedar fever symptoms mimic the flu. If you have no actual fever but feel awful in January, you're likely reacting to cedar pollen — see an allergist for a proper diagnosis.
This is Houston's worst overall allergy period. Oak pollen reaches its annual peak in March — the Houston Health Department frequently reports "Very Heavy" tree pollen counts during this month. Pine, ash, and box elder add to the load. By late April, Bermuda grass pollen begins overlapping with tree pollen, creating a double-exposure period that overwhelms many allergy sufferers.
Top allergens: Live oak, pine, ash, box elder, Bermuda grass
Severity: High to very high
Tip: This is the ideal time to start immunotherapy if you haven't already. Don't wait until symptoms are unbearable — early treatment yields better results.
Tree pollen fades but grass pollen reaches its peak. Bermuda and Johnson grass dominate. Summer is also when Houston's oppressive humidity drives indoor allergen levels — dust mites and mold — to their highest points. Air conditioning provides relief from heat but can recirculate allergens if filters aren't maintained.
Top allergens: Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, dust mites, mold
Severity: Moderate to high (outdoor), high (indoor)
Tip: Change your AC filter every 60 days during summer and keep indoor humidity below 50% with a dehumidifier. Clean AC drip pans and ducts to prevent mold buildup.
Fall brings ragweed — Houston's most aggressive weed allergen — peaking in September and October. Pigweed and marsh elder add to the weed pollen burden. This period also falls within hurricane season, and any tropical flooding can trigger massive mold blooms both indoors and outdoors. Even without hurricanes, fall rainfall and decomposing leaves create elevated mold spore counts.
Top allergens: Ragweed, pigweed, mold spores
Severity: Moderate to high (very high during ragweed peak and post-storm mold events)
Tip: After any significant flooding or water intrusion, have your home inspected for mold. Post-hurricane mold exposure is a serious respiratory health risk — don't ignore musty odors or visible growth.
Houston is one of the few major cities affected by mountain cedar pollen, which blows in from the Hill Country between December and February. Most Houstonians don't realize this isn't a cold or flu — it's an allergic reaction to one of the most potent tree pollens in North America. If you feel terrible every January with no fever, start taking antihistamines in mid-December before symptoms begin. A board-certified allergist can confirm whether cedar is your trigger through blood testing.
Houston's average humidity exceeds 75% for much of the year — paradise for dust mites and mold. Keep indoor humidity below 50% using a dehumidifier, especially in bedrooms. Wash all bedding in hot water (130°F+) weekly to kill dust mites. Use allergen-proof mattress and pillow encasements. Clean bathroom exhaust fans and AC drip pans monthly to prevent mold colonies from establishing.
Pollen counts in Houston peak between 5 AM and 10 AM. If you run, walk, or commute on foot, schedule outdoor time for late afternoon or evening when counts drop. After heavy spring rains, pollen can be temporarily washed from the air — take advantage of those windows. Check the Houston Health Department's daily pollen count report before planning outdoor workouts or yard work.
Houstonians run their air conditioning 8–10 months per year, which means HVAC filters accumulate allergens rapidly. Replace filters every 60 days with MERV-13 rated filters — standard fiberglass filters don't capture pollen or mold spores effectively. Have your ducts professionally cleaned every 2–3 years. If you notice musty odors from your vents, mold may have colonized the system — address it immediately.
Houston's pollen is sticky and clings to hair, skin, clothing, and pets. After spending time outdoors during peak pollen months (February through May), change clothes immediately upon entering your home, shower to rinse pollen from your hair and skin, and use saline nasal rinse to flush allergens from your sinuses. Wipe down pets with a damp cloth before they get on furniture or bedding.
If you've been cycling through Zyrtec, Claritin, Flonase, and Benadryl for years without lasting relief, you're treating symptoms while the underlying allergy gets worse. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) — like HeyAllergy's HeyPak® drops — retrains your immune system to stop overreacting to Houston's specific allergens. Most patients notice improvement within 3–6 months. HeyAllergy makes it easy: book a telemedicine consultation, get your blood allergy test ordered, and have your customized drops shipped to your door.
January through May is typically the worst stretch for Houston allergy sufferers. Cedar pollen peaks in January, live oak dominates March, and grass pollen begins overlapping in late April. September is also severe due to ragweed. Houston rarely offers a true allergy-free month.
Yes. Houston's warm, humid climate means allergens are present in every month. Outdoor pollen runs from December through November, while indoor allergens — dust mites, mold, and pet dander — are active year-round due to consistently high humidity. Cedar fever in winter ensures there's no seasonal break.
Cedar fever is an intense allergic reaction to mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen that blows into Houston from the Texas Hill Country between December and February. Symptoms include severe congestion, fatigue, headache, and body aches — often mistaken for the flu. Despite the name, cedar fever doesn't cause an actual fever.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists licensed in Texas. You can book a virtual consultation, have allergy blood tests ordered at a local lab, receive a diagnosis, and start treatment — all without visiting a clinic. There is no waitlist.
HeyAllergy's HeyPak® sublingual immunotherapy drops are customized based on your blood allergy test results and formulated with allergens specific to the Houston region — including cedar, oak, Bermuda grass, ragweed, dust mites, and mold. You place drops under your tongue daily at home. Over 3–6 months, your immune system builds tolerance, reducing symptoms and medication dependence.
HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans, including United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Oscar, and Tricare. Telemedicine benefits vary by plan — contact your insurance provider with HeyAllergy's Tax ID (85-0834175) to confirm your specific coverage.
HeyAllergy's allergists order blood tests that screen for allergens endemic to the Houston region, including mountain cedar, live oak, elm, pine, ash, Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, ragweed, pigweed, dust mites, mold (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium), and cat and dog dander. Your results determine which allergens are included in your personalized HeyPak® formula.
HeyAllergy has no waitlist. You can book an online appointment at a time that works for you and see a board-certified allergist via secure video consultation — typically within days, not weeks.
Houston consistently ranks among the worst cities in the United States for allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America regularly places Houston in its top 20 "Allergy Capitals" list, and the reasons go well beyond simple pollen counts. The city's Gulf Coast location creates a perfect storm of conditions — warm year-round temperatures, extreme humidity, a long growing season, and imported cedar pollen from Central Texas — that keeps allergy sufferers symptomatic in virtually every month of the year.
Unlike cities in the Midwest or Northeast where winter provides a genuine reprieve, Houston's mild winters mean pollen-producing plants never fully go dormant. Mountain cedar begins pollinating as early as December, and live oak follows by February. By the time tree pollen subsides in May, grass pollen has already taken over. The result is an allergy season that effectively runs 12 months.
Pollen gets the headlines, but Houston's humidity may be the more impactful factor for long-term allergy sufferers. With average relative humidity frequently exceeding 75%, Houston's air creates ideal conditions for two of the most persistent indoor allergens: dust mites and mold. Dust mites thrive when humidity is above 50% — Houston surpasses that threshold on most days of the year.
Mold is equally problematic. Houston's combination of warmth, moisture, and aging housing stock means mold growth is common in bathrooms, kitchens, HVAC systems, and even behind walls. Post-hurricane and tropical storm flooding can trigger severe mold blooms that persist for months. The Houston Health Department monitors both pollen and mold counts daily, and mold levels frequently reach "High" or "Very High" categories during the fall and after significant rainfall events.
For many Houston residents, indoor allergens cause more chronic discomfort than outdoor pollen because they're present 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is why environmental control — dehumidifiers, HEPA filters, allergen-proof bedding — is not optional in Houston but essential.
One of Houston's most distinctive allergy challenges is cedar fever, caused by mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen that originates in the Texas Hill Country around Austin and San Antonio. Northwest winds carry this potent pollen hundreds of miles to the Gulf Coast, where it triggers intense allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Symptoms include severe nasal congestion, headache, fatigue, and body aches — so similar to influenza that many Houstonians don't realize they're experiencing an allergic reaction rather than a viral illness.
Cedar fever typically peaks in January and can persist into February. For allergy sufferers who also react to spring tree pollen, this creates an almost seamless transition from winter cedar to spring oak — meaning no break at all between December and May.
Houston's petrochemical industry and heavy traffic contribute to air quality challenges that make allergies worse. Ground-level ozone and particulate matter irritate already-inflamed airways, lowering the threshold at which allergens trigger symptoms. On days when both pollen counts and the Air Quality Index are elevated — common during spring — allergy sufferers with coexisting asthma face significantly increased risk of symptom flares.
The Houston Ship Channel and surrounding industrial corridor produce emissions that affect air quality across much of Harris County. Monitoring both the daily pollen count and AQI before spending extended time outdoors is especially important for Houston residents with allergic asthma.
Houston is the fourth-largest city in America, and its sprawling geography means getting to a specialist appointment often involves a 45–90 minute commute each way. Traditional allergy clinics frequently have multi-week wait times for new patients, and allergy shot schedules requiring weekly or biweekly clinic visits are impractical for many working Houstonians.
HeyAllergy eliminates these barriers with telemedicine-based allergy care. Houston residents across Harris County, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, and surrounding areas can see a board-certified allergist from home via secure video consultation. Comprehensive blood allergy tests can be ordered to a nearby Quest or Labcorp location, and a personalized treatment plan — including prescriptions and HeyPak® sublingual immunotherapy drops — can begin without a single in-person visit.
HeyPak® is particularly well-suited for Houston patients because the drops are customized based on your specific test results and the allergens that are endemic to the Houston region. They're mailed directly to your home, taken daily under the tongue, and monitored by your allergist through follow-up telemedicine visits. No needles, no clinic commutes, no waitlist.
If your allergy symptoms last more than a few weeks each year, over-the-counter antihistamines aren't providing adequate relief, you experience recurring sinus infections, allergies are affecting your sleep or work productivity, you have both allergies and asthma, or you've developed new symptoms since moving to Houston, it's time to see a board-certified allergist. HeyAllergy's specialists can identify your exact triggers and build a treatment plan targeting the root cause — not just masking symptoms with medication.
HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans, making expert allergy care accessible and affordable for Houston residents throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area.
