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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 Orlando — updated daily.
Orlando's tree pollen season is among the earliest and most intense in the eastern United States. Live oak is the dominant tree allergen — Central Florida's iconic live oaks produce massive quantities of pollen beginning in late February, coating cars, sidewalks, and outdoor surfaces in visible yellow-green dust through April. The pollen is so heavy during peak weeks that it accumulates in drifts along curbs and pool decks. Cedar (eastern red cedar and Atlantic white cedar) pollinates during cooler months from December through February, meaning tree pollen exposure begins before most of the country even enters allergy season. Pine trees — both slash pine and longleaf pine — are abundant throughout Orange County and release copious pollen in late spring, though pine pollen grains are large and less likely to trigger allergic reactions than oak or cedar. Cypress trees (bald cypress) grow around Orlando's numerous lakes and wetlands, pollinating from January through March. Additional tree allergens include elm, maple, bayberry, ash, mulberry, pecan, and Australian pine (Casuarina). The subtropical climate means Orlando never experiences a hard freeze that resets pollination cycles — trees begin pollinating weeks earlier than temperate regions and continue longer into spring, creating an extended tree pollen season that can last four full months.
Grass pollen season in Orlando lasts roughly seven months — nearly twice as long as in northern cities. Bahia grass is the signature warm-season grass of Central Florida, thriving in the sandy soils and heat that define the region. It pollinates aggressively from late spring through early fall. Bermuda grass is equally prevalent in residential lawns, commercial landscapes, theme park grounds, golf courses, and athletic fields throughout the Orlando metro area. The Orlando area contains some of the most intensively landscaped outdoor spaces in the world: Walt Disney World's four theme parks, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and dozens of smaller attractions maintain enormous expanses of turf grass that produce pollen throughout the warm season. The region's approximately 170 golf courses add additional grass pollen sources. St. Augustine grass, used extensively in residential lawns, is less allergenic but still contributes to the overall pollen load. Johnson grass and ryegrass (used for winter overseeding) add seasonal contributions. Orlando's flat terrain and frequent afternoon breezes distribute grass pollen widely across the metro area. The absence of a killing frost means some grass species pollinate into November and resume as early as March.
Ragweed is the dominant fall allergen in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. A single ragweed plant can produce up to a billion pollen grains in a season, and the lightweight pollen travels hundreds of miles on air currents. In Orlando, ragweed season typically runs from late August through November, with September and October producing the highest counts. Dog fennel — a tall, feathery weed that grows prolifically in disturbed soils, vacant lots, and road shoulders throughout Central Florida — is another significant fall allergen. Pigweed (amaranth), dock, sorrel, nettle, and lamb's quarters contribute additional weed pollen. Orlando's rapid development and continuous construction activity disturb soils and create ideal conditions for pioneer weed species that colonize freshly cleared land. The metro area's growth — Orlando has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States — means construction sites, new road projects, and land-clearing operations are constant sources of disturbed soil where allergenic weeds establish quickly. Unlike northern cities where the first frost ends weed pollen season definitively, Orlando's frost-free climate means ragweed and other weeds can pollinate into December in mild years.
Mold is arguably Orlando's most persistent and underappreciated allergen. The city's average relative humidity is 74 percent, with summer humidity routinely exceeding 90 percent. Orlando receives approximately 50 inches of rainfall annually, with most falling during afternoon thunderstorms from June through September. This daily cycle of intense heat, rain, and humidity creates ideal conditions for mold proliferation both indoors and outdoors. Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium mold species are prevalent in Central Florida's air year-round. Outdoor mold grows on decaying vegetation, mulch beds, lake shorelines, and the abundant organic debris generated by subtropical plant life. Indoor mold thrives in the constant battle between Florida's humid outdoor air and air-conditioned interior environments — every time a door opens, humid air enters and condenses on cool indoor surfaces. Orlando's hundreds of lakes and surrounding wetlands contribute ambient moisture that keeps humidity elevated even during drier winter months. Dust mites flourish in the warm, humid environment, with Central Florida's year-round warmth preventing the seasonal die-offs that occur in colder climates. Pet dander and cockroach allergens are persistent indoor triggers. Orlando's sandy soils, a legacy of ancient seabed geology, can become airborne during construction and dry windy periods.
Severity: Moderate
While most of the country is frozen, Orlando's allergy season is already underway. Cedar and cypress trees pollinate through January and February, releasing pollen that catches many residents off guard. By late February, live oak pollen begins its explosive spring surge — Orlando's signature allergy event. Mold levels are at their annual low but remain present due to the mild temperatures (average highs near 72°F in January). Dust mites and indoor allergens continue uninterrupted. This is actually Orlando's best period for allergy sufferers, though it would still qualify as a moderate allergy period in most northern cities. Dry season conditions (November through May) keep outdoor mold somewhat suppressed, but lake-effect moisture from Orlando's hundreds of surrounding lakes prevents true dryness.
Severity: High to Severe
March through May is Orlando's most intense allergy period. Live oak pollen peaks in March and April, producing the visible yellow-green pollen coatings that define Central Florida spring. Pine pollen adds dramatic visual impact — the large yellow grains coat everything outdoors though they are less allergenic than oak. Elm, maple, bayberry, ash, and mulberry contribute overlapping tree pollen. By April, Bahia and Bermuda grass pollen surges as warming temperatures accelerate grass growth across the metro area's lawns, parks, golf courses, and theme park grounds. May sees late tree pollen overlapping with intensifying grass pollen. The transition from dry season to wet season begins in late May, introducing rising humidity and the first afternoon thunderstorms that promote mold growth. This three-month stretch often sends unprepared residents and tourists to urgent care with severe allergy symptoms.
Severity: Moderate (pollen) to High (mold and air quality)
Summer shifts Orlando's primary allergen from pollen to mold. The daily afternoon thunderstorm pattern — which occurs with remarkable regularity from June through September — creates a perpetual cycle: morning heat drives pollen into the air, afternoon thunderstorms wash pollen down while soaking the ground, and the combination of warmth and moisture promotes explosive mold growth overnight. By the next morning, mold spores are airborne alongside fresh pollen, and the cycle repeats. Humidity routinely exceeds 90 percent during summer months. Grass pollen continues through summer as Bahia and Bermuda grass pollinate in the heat. Late August marks the beginning of ragweed season, adding fall weed pollen to the mold and grass already present. Hurricane season (June through November) can bring tropical moisture, flooding, and dramatically elevated mold counts when standing water saturates homes and landscapes. The combination of heat, humidity, outdoor mold, and the transition into weed pollen makes late August through September particularly challenging.
Severity: Moderate to High (October) declining to Low-Moderate (December)
October is dominated by ragweed and dog fennel pollen, with September through October typically producing the highest weed pollen counts of the year. Mold remains elevated through October as residual summer moisture sustains growth. November brings gradual relief as falling temperatures slow plant growth and the dry season returns, reducing mold. However, Orlando never experiences the definitive frost that ends weed pollen season in northern cities — in mild years, ragweed and other weeds continue pollinating into early December. By late November, grass pollen has diminished significantly and weed pollen is declining. December offers relative relief, though cedar trees begin their winter pollination cycle by mid-month, ensuring that Orlando's allergy calendar has no truly pollen-free period. Indoor allergens — dust mites, mold, pet dander — persist unchanged through the cooler months as enclosed living increases exposure.
Orlando is one of a handful of American cities where allergy season genuinely runs 12 months a year. The subtropical climate — classified as humid subtropical with average temperatures ranging from 60°F in January to 92°F in July — never produces a hard freeze that resets pollination cycles or kills mold. When tree pollen fades in May, grass pollen is already surging. When grass pollen weakens in fall, ragweed takes over. When weed pollen finally declines in November, cedar trees begin their winter pollination. And mold spores thrive year-round in the humidity. For allergy sufferers relocating to Orlando — or longtime residents whose symptoms have worsened — this unbroken allergen exposure is the fundamental challenge. Treating individual symptoms season by season often fails because the next trigger is always approaching. Building immune tolerance through sublingual immunotherapy addresses the root cause by training your immune system to stop overreacting to the allergens you encounter every day.
From June through September, Orlando experiences one of the most predictable weather patterns in the country: clear hot mornings, cumulus cloud buildup by early afternoon, and thunderstorms between 2:00 and 6:00 PM that dump intense rainfall before clearing by evening. This pattern repeats almost daily during peak summer. For allergy sufferers, it creates a relentless mold cycle. Morning heat dries overnight moisture and launches pollen. Afternoon rain washes pollen from the air but saturates the ground, mulch beds, leaf litter, and organic material around Orlando's hundreds of lakes. Overnight warmth and humidity drive explosive mold growth. By the next morning, mold spores are airborne alongside fresh pollen, and the cycle repeats. During this period, checking pollen counts alone is misleading — you must also track mold counts, which often exceed pollen as the primary respiratory trigger in Orlando's summer months.
Orlando is sometimes called a "city of lakes" — the metro area contains well over 100 named lakes, from the iconic Lake Eola in downtown to massive Lake Apopka in western Orange County. These lakes, many formed by sinkholes in Central Florida's limestone karst geology, create a humidity baseline that distinguishes Orlando from drier inland cities. The evaporation from hundreds of lake surfaces contributes ambient moisture to the air, particularly during morning hours before convective breezes disperse it. Neighborhoods adjacent to lakes — including many of Orlando's most desirable residential areas around Lake Conway, the Butler Chain of Lakes, and Lake Nona — experience elevated humidity and mold exposure compared to neighborhoods further from water. Lake-effect moisture also supports lush vegetation growth along shorelines, producing additional pollen and providing organic substrate for mold colonies. Understanding your proximity to major lakes helps predict your specific mold and humidity exposure.
Orlando hosts approximately 75 million visitors annually, drawn primarily to outdoor theme parks that maintain some of the most intensively landscaped environments on Earth. Walt Disney World alone covers 25,000 acres — roughly the size of San Francisco — with manicured gardens, turf grass, tropical plantings, and water features that produce pollen and support mold growth. Universal Studios, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and dozens of smaller attractions add thousands more acres of maintained outdoor environments. For Orlando residents who work in the tourism and hospitality industry — the region's largest employer — daily occupational exposure to outdoor allergens is unavoidable. For residents who simply enjoy the area's parks, lakes, golf courses, and outdoor dining culture, the subtropical lifestyle that defines Orlando means spending more time in allergen-rich outdoor air than residents of colder cities. If you find that your allergies worsen with your outdoor lifestyle rather than improving with "fresh air," your body is telling you that the outdoor air itself contains the triggers affecting you.
HeyAllergy offers telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Florida. Book a virtual consultation from anywhere in the Orlando metro — Orange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, or Lake County — and connect from home using your phone, tablet, or computer. Have allergy blood tests ordered at a convenient local lab and receive a personalized treatment plan based on your specific triggers. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building tolerance to the specific allergens triggering your symptoms — whether live oak, Bahia grass, ragweed, dust mites, or mold. In a city with no allergy off-season, treating the underlying sensitivity is the most effective path to lasting relief.
March through May is the worst period, when peak live oak and pine tree pollen overlaps with surging Bahia and Bermuda grass pollen. However, Orlando has no true allergy off-season — tree pollen runs February through May, grass pollen April through October, ragweed August through November, and mold year-round. Late August through October is a second peak when ragweed, residual grass pollen, and mold all coincide.
The most common allergens in Orlando are live oak pollen, cedar, Bahia grass, Bermuda grass, ragweed, mold (Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus), dust mites, and pet dander. Pine, cypress, elm, bayberry, dog fennel, and Australian pine also affect residents. A blood allergy test identifies your specific triggers.
Orlando's subtropical climate creates year-round allergen exposure with no winter break. Northern transplants are accustomed to seasonal allergy relief during cold months. In Orlando, when one allergen fades, another is already peaking. The high humidity also promotes mold and dust mite proliferation that many newcomers from drier climates have never encountered as significant triggers.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Florida. Book a virtual consultation from anywhere in the state, have allergy blood tests ordered at a lab near you, 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. The drops contain precise doses of the specific allergens triggering your symptoms — whether oak, Bahia grass, ragweed, dust mites, or mold. 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, Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Oscar, and Tricare. Contact your insurance provider with Tax ID: 85-0834175 to confirm your specific telemedicine coverage.
Yes. Orlando is one of the few American cities with genuinely year-round allergy exposure. The subtropical climate never produces a hard freeze to reset pollination cycles. Cedar trees pollinate in winter, oaks in spring, grasses through summer, ragweed in fall, and mold grows year-round in the humidity. There is no pollen-free month in Orlando.
HeyAllergy offers fast scheduling with no waitlist. Book a telemedicine appointment with a board-certified allergist and connect from home using your phone, tablet, or computer. Orlando and Central Florida residents can access specialist allergy care immediately without waiting weeks for a local opening.
Orlando, Florida — "The City Beautiful" — is one of the most challenging cities in the United States for allergy sufferers. Situated in the heart of Central Florida with approximately 310,000 residents (and a metro area exceeding 2.6 million), Orlando combines a humid subtropical climate, hundreds of surrounding lakes, year-round warmth, and explosive growth into an environment where allergens are present every month of the year. Unlike northern cities where winter provides a genuine reprieve from pollen, Orlando's frost-free climate means pollination cycles overlap continuously: cedar trees pollinate in winter, live oaks dominate spring, grasses run through summer, ragweed peaks in fall, and mold spores thrive year-round in humidity that averages 74 percent. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America consistently ranks the Orlando metro area among the most challenging cities for allergy sufferers in the country. For the millions who have relocated to Central Florida from northern states — and for lifelong residents whose symptoms have gradually worsened — understanding Orlando's unique allergen dynamics is essential for effective treatment.
Orlando's geography is defined by water. The metro area contains well over 100 named lakes — from the iconic Lake Eola in downtown to the massive Lake Apopka in western Orange County, from the Butler Chain of Lakes in the south to Lake Jesup in Seminole County. Many of these lakes formed through sinkhole processes in Central Florida's limestone karst geology, creating a landscape dotted with water bodies that collectively contribute enormous ambient moisture to the air. This lake-rich geography establishes a humidity baseline that other Florida cities of similar latitude but different topography don't share. The evaporation from hundreds of lake surfaces adds moisture during morning hours, contributing to the afternoon thunderstorm cycle that defines Orlando's summer weather. Neighborhoods adjacent to major lakes — including some of Orlando's most desirable residential areas — experience elevated humidity and correspondingly higher mold exposure than neighborhoods further from water. The lakes also support dense shoreline vegetation including cypress trees, willows, and aquatic plants that produce pollen and provide organic substrate for mold growth. Orlando's flat terrain, sitting approximately 82 feet above sea level with minimal elevation change, means moisture doesn't drain quickly after rainfall, extending the period of saturated soils and active mold growth.
From June through September, Orlando experiences one of the most predictable meteorological patterns in North America: intense morning heat, cumulus cloud buildup by midday, and powerful afternoon thunderstorms that dump heavy rainfall — often more than an inch in under an hour — before clearing by evening. This cycle repeats with remarkable consistency, driven by the convergence of sea breezes from both the Atlantic Ocean (approximately 50 miles east) and the Gulf of Mexico (approximately 75 miles west) meeting over Central Florida's heated land mass. For allergy sufferers, this daily weather cycle is a perpetual mold production engine. Morning heat drives overnight moisture and launches pollen into the air. Afternoon storms wash pollen down while drenching the ground, mulch beds, leaf litter, and organic material. Overnight warmth and humidity promote explosive mold reproduction. By the next morning, fresh mold spores are airborne alongside new pollen, and the cycle repeats. Orlando receives approximately 50 inches of rainfall annually, with the majority falling during these summer thunderstorms. The result is that summer — when pollen counts are declining — is actually one of Orlando's most challenging periods for respiratory symptoms because mold becomes the dominant airborne trigger.
No discussion of Orlando's allergy landscape is complete without addressing the theme park industry. Orlando hosts approximately 75 million visitors annually, drawn primarily to outdoor attractions that maintain some of the most intensively landscaped environments on Earth. Walt Disney World alone covers roughly 25,000 acres — an area approximately the size of San Francisco — with four theme parks, two water parks, resort hotels, golf courses, and vast maintained landscapes. Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and dozens of smaller attractions add thousands more acres of maintained outdoor environments with irrigated turf, tropical plantings, water features, and manicured gardens. These attractions maintain their landscapes year-round, irrigating grass through dry periods and fertilizing for continuous growth, which extends pollen production beyond what natural rainfall patterns would support. For the estimated 120,000 Orange County residents who work in leisure and hospitality — the region's largest employment sector — daily occupational exposure to these outdoor allergen environments is unavoidable. For all residents, the outdoor lifestyle that defines Orlando living — dining al fresco, visiting parks, golfing, fishing on the lakes — means more time in allergen-rich subtropical air than residents of colder, indoor-oriented cities typically experience.
Orlando has been one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States for over a decade, and that growth directly impacts the allergen landscape. New subdivisions, road projects, commercial developments, and the ongoing expansion of tourism infrastructure involve continuous land clearing and soil disturbance across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. Disturbed soils are immediately colonized by pioneer weed species — ragweed, dog fennel, pigweed, and other allergenic plants that thrive in freshly cleared land. Construction dust from Orlando's sandy soils (a legacy of ancient seabed geology) becomes airborne during clearing and grading operations, adding particulate matter to the air alongside biological allergens. The conversion of citrus groves and agricultural land to residential developments — a transformation that has accelerated dramatically since the early 2000s — changes the local allergen profile as diverse native and agricultural vegetation is replaced by residential landscaping featuring highly allergenic grass species. Each new development creates a temporary burst of construction dust and weed growth followed by a permanent source of grass pollen from installed lawns and landscaping.
HeyAllergy's telemedicine platform connects Orlando and Central Florida residents to board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Florida. A virtual consultation from home eliminates the need to navigate Orlando's traffic for specialist care — no waiting weeks for an appointment, no sitting in a waiting room. Allergy blood tests are ordered at a convenient local lab in Orange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, or wherever is most accessible. A personalized treatment plan is developed based on your specific triggers. 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 — from live oak and Bahia grass pollen to ragweed, mold, dust mites, and pet dander. In a city with no allergy off-season, treating the underlying allergic sensitivity rather than chasing symptoms season after season is the most effective path to lasting relief and the ability to enjoy everything that makes Orlando The City Beautiful.
