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Real-time pollen data for Plano — updated daily.
Plano's tree pollen profile is shaped by its position at the boundary of two distinct Texas ecological regions. The Blackland Prairie, which historically covered the rich dark soils of Collin County, contributes elm, pecan, and hackberry. The Cross Timbers region, which extends into western Collin and Denton counties, contributes post oak, blackjack oak, and cedar elm. Together, they create a tree pollen season that begins earlier and lasts longer than either ecosystem alone would produce. Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) is Plano's most distinctive tree allergen. Although the densest stands grow in the Hill Country south of Austin, mountain cedar pollen is so lightweight that it travels hundreds of miles on Texas cold fronts and south winds, reaching North Texas in concentrations high enough to trigger "cedar fever" — severe allergy symptoms including fatigue, headache, and heavy congestion that mimic influenza. Cedar pollination runs from mid-December through February, filling what would otherwise be Plano's only pollen-free period. Live oak and red oak produce heavy pollen loads in March and April, with oak being the single highest-volume tree allergen in North Texas. Pecan trees — both wild and cultivated — pollinate in April and May and are particularly potent allergens. Ash, elm (including the prolific cedar elm), cottonwood, mulberry, hackberry, and mesquite all contribute pollen at varying times from February through May. Pine pollen adds visible yellow dust in spring but is less allergenic than hardwood species. The result is a tree pollen season that effectively spans six months, from December cedar through May pecan.
Grass pollen is Plano's dominant warm-season allergen, driven by the Blackland Prairie's legacy as one of North America's great grassland ecosystems. Although most of the original tallgrass prairie has been developed, the grasses that evolved in Collin County's rich black clay soils remain the region's dominant lawn and landscape species. Bermuda grass is the signature warm-season grass of North Texas — it grows in virtually every residential lawn, commercial landscape, park, athletic field, school ground, and median in Plano. Bermuda produces heavy pollen loads from April through October. Ryegrass, used to overseed Bermuda lawns for winter green color, pollinates in spring and contributes to the March-through-May overlap of tree and grass pollen. Johnson grass grows along roadsides, creek corridors, and undeveloped land throughout Collin County. Bahia grass, Timothy grass, and fescue contribute additional pollen. Plano's 86 parks spanning more than 4,200 acres of maintained open space, extensive trail systems, and the manicured commercial landscapes of Legacy West, the Shops at Legacy, and corporate campuses throughout the city all produce grass pollen. The North Texas climate allows a fall grass pollen resurgence in September and October when summer drought breaks and autumn rains stimulate late-season growth.
Ragweed dominates Plano's fall allergy season. North Texas ragweed season runs from late August through the first freeze, typically in late November — a full month longer than in northern states. Giant ragweed and common ragweed both grow prolifically in Collin County's disturbed soils, vacant lots, construction sites, and along the extensive network of creek corridors. A single ragweed plant produces up to a billion lightweight pollen grains per season, and the flat terrain of North Texas allows unobstructed wind dispersal across the entire metro. Pigweed (amaranth), lamb's quarters, and dock contribute additional fall weed pollen. Sagebrush produces pollen that affects sensitive individuals. Plano's location in one of the fastest-growing counties in America means constant construction activity — new subdivisions, road widening projects, commercial developments, and mixed-use projects along the Dallas North Tollway, US-75, and Legacy Drive corridors continually disturb soil and create ideal ragweed habitat. Each construction site becomes a temporary weed pollen source before being replaced by permanent landscaping. The sheer pace of development in Collin County ensures that at any given time, dozens of active construction sites are producing disturbed soil where ragweed and pioneer weeds colonize within weeks.
Mold growth in Plano follows the North Texas rainfall pattern, peaking during spring storms (March through May) and fall rain events (September through November). Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium are common outdoor mold species in Collin County. Plano's extensive creek system — including Rowlett Creek, Spring Creek, and their tributaries — creates riparian corridors where moisture supports mold growth year-round. The city's black clay soils (Blackland Prairie legacy) retain moisture and expand when wet, creating foundation shifting and moisture intrusion problems in homes that promote indoor mold. Flash flooding along creek corridors during North Texas thunderstorms saturates low-lying areas and promotes mold blooms. Summer heat suppresses outdoor mold temporarily but drives residents into heavily air-conditioned homes where indoor allergens concentrate. Dust mites thrive year-round in North Texas homes. Pet dander is a persistent trigger. Plano's relatively newer housing stock (much of the city was built between 1970 and 2010) generally has better moisture control than older homes, but rapid construction during building booms sometimes results in homes with moisture management issues that promote mold growth in attics, crawl spaces, and between walls.
Severity: Moderate to High
While most of the country enjoys a pollen-free winter, North Texas enters its most distinctive allergy season. Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen arrives from the Hill Country on cold fronts and south winds, reaching Plano in concentrations sufficient to trigger cedar fever — symptoms so severe they mimic the flu, including fatigue, headache, sore throat, and heavy congestion. Cedar pollen peaks in mid-January and tapers through February. Elm trees begin pollinating in late February, bridging the gap between winter cedar and spring tree pollen. Indoor allergens are at their peak as Texans seal homes against cold weather, concentrating dust mites, pet dander, and indoor mold. This season catches many North Texas transplants off guard — they expect winter allergy relief but instead encounter one of Texas's most notorious allergens.
Severity: Severe
March through May is Plano's worst allergy period by every measure. Oak pollen explodes in March and April — the visible yellow-green pollen coats every outdoor surface in North Texas and represents the single highest-volume allergen of the year. Pecan, ash, cottonwood, mulberry, and hackberry add overlapping tree pollen waves. By April, Bermuda grass and ryegrass pollen surges as warm temperatures accelerate growth across Plano's lawns, parks, and commercial landscapes. May sees late tree pollen (especially pecan) overlapping with intensifying grass pollen. Spring thunderstorms bring brief pollen washouts followed by mold surges as moisture promotes rapid growth. The combination of peak tree pollen, emerging grass pollen, and spring mold makes this period the most likely time for allergy sufferers to seek medical care. North Texas allergists report their highest patient volumes during March and April.
Severity: Moderate (June) declining to Low (July–August)
June continues grass pollen season with Bermuda and Johnson grass still producing pollen, though counts begin declining as extreme summer heat (average highs reaching 95–99°F) suppresses some plant activity. July and August represent Plano's only real allergy break — the extreme heat that defines North Texas summers suppresses most pollen production and bakes outdoor mold. However, this break is relative: indoor allergens intensify as residents spend virtually all their time in air-conditioned environments, and dust mites thrive in the controlled indoor humidity. By late August, ragweed begins pollinating, marking the transition into fall allergy season. The brief window from roughly July 4th through Labor Day is the closest Plano comes to true allergy relief — a window that barely exists in Houston or San Antonio and doesn't exist at all in Austin's year-round cedar-to-oak-to-grass-to-ragweed cycle.
Severity: Moderate to High
September through November is ragweed season in Plano. Ragweed counts peak in September and October, producing the fall allergy misery that affects an estimated 15 to 20 percent of the population. Fall rains stimulate a grass pollen resurgence as Bermuda grass rebounds from summer dormancy. Mold counts rise as autumn moisture promotes growth on decaying vegetation and in creek corridors. October brings declining ragweed as overnight temperatures cool, but Plano's first freeze typically doesn't arrive until late November — extending weed pollen season a full month beyond northern cities. November offers gradual relief, though mold remains elevated after fall rains. By December, mountain cedar pollen begins arriving from the Hill Country, ensuring that Plano's allergy calendar cycles back without a gap. The net result: roughly 10 months of meaningful allergen exposure with only the extreme heat of July and August providing relative relief.
Plano sits at one of the most significant ecological boundaries in Texas — where the Blackland Prairie meets the Cross Timbers and Prairie region. This convergence zone, which runs roughly through Collin and Denton counties, means Plano receives allergens from two distinct ecosystems simultaneously. The Blackland Prairie, which historically covered the rich dark clay soils beneath much of Plano, was dominated by tallgrasses with scattered elm, pecan, and hackberry trees. The Cross Timbers region, characterized by dense stands of post oak and blackjack oak with understory grasses, extends into western portions of the metro area. A Plano resident is exposed to prairie grass pollens AND cross-timber oak pollens in the same spring season — a combined load that residents of cities fully within one ecological region don't experience. Understanding this dual-ecosystem exposure helps explain why North Texas consistently ranks among the worst metro areas for allergies in the United States and why many people who relocate to Plano from other regions find their allergies significantly worse than expected.
Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen is perhaps the most misunderstood allergen in Texas. The densest cedar forests grow in the Hill Country between Austin and San Antonio, roughly 200 miles south of Plano. Yet cedar pollen is so fine and lightweight that Texas cold fronts — which sweep southward across the state in winter — carry it hundreds of miles, depositing enough pollen in North Texas to trigger severe allergic reactions. Cedar fever symptoms are unusually intense: extreme fatigue, headache, sore throat, facial pressure, and heavy nasal congestion that closely mimic influenza. Many Plano residents visit urgent care convinced they have the flu, only to discover their symptoms are allergic. Cedar pollinates from mid-December through February, filling what would otherwise be Plano's only pollen-free season. The result is a city with effectively 10 months of active pollen exposure, with only July and August's extreme heat providing meaningful relief. If you experience flu-like symptoms every winter that don't respond to cold medicine, cedar fever is a likely explanation.
Collin County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in America for over two decades, and that growth directly impacts the allergen landscape. Every new subdivision, road widening project, retail center, and corporate campus involves clearing former prairie or agricultural land, disturbing soils, and creating conditions where ragweed and pioneer weeds establish within weeks. The construction boom along the Dallas North Tollway corridor, US-75, Legacy Drive, and the northern reaches of Plano and Frisco has been constant. Once construction is complete, the disturbed soil is replaced by maintained landscaping dominated by Bermuda grass — converting temporary weed pollen sources into permanent grass pollen sources. Plano's 86 parks spanning over 4,200 acres of maintained open space, the extensive trail system along Rowlett Creek and Spring Creek, and the manicured commercial districts at Legacy West and the Shops at Legacy all represent former Blackland Prairie converted to intensively managed landscapes that produce grass pollen throughout the warm season. For allergy sufferers, this means Plano's allergen profile is still actively evolving as development continues.
North Texas allergists describe the Plano allergy season as lasting roughly 10 months, with only the extreme heat of July and early August providing meaningful pollen relief. Cedar runs December through February. Tree pollen (oak, pecan, elm, ash) runs February through May. Grass pollen runs April through June with a fall resurgence in September and October. Ragweed runs August through November. The only gap is approximately July 4th through Labor Day, when triple-digit heat suppresses most pollen production. Even during this window, indoor allergens (dust mites, pet dander, indoor mold) intensify as North Texans retreat into air-conditioned homes. For residents with multiple allergen sensitivities, there may be no truly symptom-free month. This reality underscores why over-the-counter antihistamines often provide inadequate relief in Plano — they treat symptoms of individual allergen exposures but can't keep pace with the overlapping triggers in a 10-month season. Sublingual immunotherapy builds tolerance to your specific triggers, reducing reactions across the entire calendar rather than chasing each season individually.
HeyAllergy offers telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. Book a virtual consultation from anywhere in the Plano area — Collin County, Denton County, or anywhere in the DFW metroplex — 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 mountain cedar, live oak, Bermuda grass, ragweed, dust mites, or mold. In a city with a 10-month allergy season, treating the underlying sensitivity is the only way to reclaim the outdoor North Texas lifestyle.
March through May is the worst period, when peak oak and pecan tree pollen overlaps with surging Bermuda and ryegrass pollen. September through October is a secondary peak from ragweed. Cedar fever affects many residents from December through February. The only meaningful break is July through early August when extreme heat suppresses pollen. Plano's allergy season effectively lasts 10 months.
The most common allergens in Plano are mountain cedar (Ashe juniper), live oak, pecan, Bermuda grass, ragweed, mold (Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus), dust mites, and pet dander. Elm, ash, cottonwood, ryegrass, Johnson grass, pigweed, and hackberry also affect residents. A blood allergy test identifies your specific triggers.
Cedar fever is an intense allergic reaction to mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen that causes flu-like symptoms including severe fatigue, headache, sore throat, and heavy congestion. Although the densest cedar forests are in the Hill Country 200 miles south, the pollen travels on cold fronts and reaches North Texas in allergy-triggering concentrations. Cedar season runs mid-December through February.
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 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 cedar, oak, Bermuda 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.
Plano sits at the boundary where the Blackland Prairie meets the Cross Timbers ecological region, exposing residents to allergens from both ecosystems simultaneously. The 10-month allergy season with only a brief summer break, combined with mountain cedar pollen arriving from the Hill Country in winter, creates year-round exposure that many transplants from other regions have never encountered. North Texas consistently ranks among the worst metro areas for allergies nationwide.
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. Plano and DFW metroplex residents can access specialist allergy care immediately without waiting weeks for a local opening.
Plano, Texas — population approximately 290,000 — sits in Collin County at one of the most significant ecological boundaries in the state. The Blackland Prairie, a tallgrass ecosystem that once stretched in a narrow band from San Antonio to the Red River, historically covered the rich dark clay soils beneath much of Plano. The Cross Timbers and Prairie region, characterized by dense stands of post oak and blackjack oak with understory grasses, extends into western portions of the metro area. This convergence zone means Plano residents are exposed to allergens from two distinct ecosystems simultaneously — prairie grasses and their associated weeds from the east, and cross-timber oaks and woodland species from the west. North Texas has consistently ranked among the worst metropolitan areas for allergies in the United States, and this ecological boundary is a significant reason why. The allergy season in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex lasts approximately 10 months, with only the extreme heat of July and early August providing meaningful pollen relief. For the hundreds of thousands who have relocated to Plano and Collin County as part of one of America's most dramatic suburban growth stories, this relentless allergen exposure often comes as an unwelcome surprise.
Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) is Texas's most distinctive allergen and one that sets North Texas apart from virtually every other region of the country. The densest Ashe juniper forests grow in the Hill Country between Austin and San Antonio, but the pollen is so fine and lightweight that it travels hundreds of miles on air currents. When Texas cold fronts sweep southward or south winds push air northward, mountain cedar pollen reaches North Texas in concentrations sufficient to trigger severe allergic reactions. The phenomenon, known as cedar fever, produces symptoms that closely mimic influenza: extreme fatigue, headache, sore throat, facial pressure, and heavy nasal congestion. Cedar pollinates from mid-December through February, filling what would otherwise be Plano's winter pollen break. Many residents visit urgent care or their primary care physician convinced they have the flu, only to discover their misery is allergic. The timing is particularly insidious — cedar season overlaps with cold and flu season, making accurate diagnosis difficult without allergy testing. For Plano residents sensitive to mountain cedar, the 10-month allergy season effectively becomes 12 months, with only the heat of July and August providing any meaningful reprieve.
Before European settlement, the Blackland Prairie that covered Collin County was one of the richest grassland ecosystems in North America. The deep, dark, alkaline clay soils — formed from ancient chalk and marl deposits — supported tallgrass prairie that could grow six feet high. Today, virtually all of Plano's original prairie has been developed, but the legacy persists in the region's grass allergen profile. The warm-season grasses that now dominate — particularly Bermuda grass — thrive in the same soil and climate conditions that supported the original tallgrass prairie. Bermuda grass grows in virtually every residential lawn, commercial landscape, park, school ground, and median in Plano. The city maintains 86 parks spanning over 4,200 acres of open space, an extensive trail system along Rowlett Creek and Spring Creek, and commercial districts like Legacy West and the Shops at Legacy with manicured landscapes. The Blackland Prairie's clay soils have a distinctive property that affects homeowners and allergy sufferers alike: they expand dramatically when wet and contract when dry, causing foundation shifting and creating cracks where moisture enters homes and promotes indoor mold growth. This seasonal soil movement — a direct legacy of the prairie's geological history — contributes to the indoor mold problems that plague many Plano homes, particularly during cycles of drought followed by heavy rain.
Collin County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States for over two decades. The population has roughly tripled since 2000, driven by corporate relocations (Toyota, Liberty Mutual, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and numerous technology companies have established major campuses), top-rated schools, and the northward expansion of the DFW metroplex. This growth directly impacts the allergen landscape through constant construction activity. Every new subdivision, office park, road widening project, and retail center involves clearing former prairie or agricultural land. Disturbed soils are immediately colonized by ragweed, pigweed, and other pioneer weeds that produce allergenic pollen within weeks. The construction boom along the Dallas North Tollway corridor, US-75, Legacy Drive, and the northern reaches of Plano has been essentially continuous. Once construction is complete, maintained landscaping dominated by Bermuda grass replaces the temporary weed habitat, converting construction-phase weed pollen sources into permanent grass pollen sources. For Plano's growing population of corporate transplants — many arriving from regions with shorter, less diverse allergy seasons — the combination of unfamiliar allergens, 10-month exposure, and a landscape in constant development creates an allergy challenge that over-the-counter medications alone rarely manage effectively.
Plano's creek system — Rowlett Creek, Spring Creek, White Rock Creek, and their tributaries — creates a network of riparian corridors that function as both recreational trails and allergen production zones. These creek corridors support denser vegetation than the surrounding developed land, including trees, shrubs, and understory plants that produce pollen. The moisture retained along creek banks promotes mold growth year-round. During North Texas thunderstorms, these creeks flood rapidly — the Blackland Prairie's clay soils shed water rather than absorbing it — and the flooding saturates low-lying areas where mold blooms follow within days. The undeveloped margins along creek corridors also harbor ragweed, Johnson grass, and other allergenic weeds. Plano's extensive trail system, which follows many of these creek corridors, is one of the city's most popular outdoor amenities. For allergy sufferers who use these trails for exercise, the proximity to riparian vegetation, mold, and weed pollen makes creek-corridor trails potentially higher-exposure environments than neighborhood sidewalks or indoor exercise facilities.
HeyAllergy's telemedicine platform connects Plano and Collin County residents to board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. A virtual consultation from home eliminates the need to navigate DFW 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 Collin County, Denton 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 mountain cedar and live oak to Bermuda grass, ragweed, mold, dust mites, and pet dander. In a city with a 10-month allergy season where each wave of allergens overlaps with the next, treating the underlying sensitivity is the most effective path to lasting relief and the ability to enjoy Plano's outdoor lifestyle year-round.
