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Real-time pollen data for Spring Valley — updated daily.
Spring Valley's tree pollen season begins earlier than most of the country and is dominated by two infamous species: fruitless mulberry and European olive. Clark County banned new plantings of both in 1991 due to their extreme pollen production, but thousands of legacy mulberry trees planted throughout Spring Valley from the 1950s through the 1980s still stand — mature males that churn out massive pollen clouds each spring. Mulberry pollen peaks in March and April, with concentrations in older neighborhoods sometimes exceeding 10,000 grains per cubic meter. European olive trees follow in April through May, producing even more potent allergenic pollen. Additional tree allergens include ash (February–April), pine (March–May), oak, elm, maple, mesquite, and cottonwood. The long Las Vegas Valley growing season means tree pollen can linger from February through June without interruption.
Bermuda grass is Spring Valley's dominant grass allergen, thriving on the community's golf courses (Spanish Trail Country Club, Rhodes Ranch), public parks, and residential lawns that are irrigated year-round in the desert climate. Desert Breeze Park's 240 acres of maintained grounds are a significant local Bermuda grass pollen source. Saltgrass, a native desert species, contributes pollen in open and undeveloped areas. Ryegrass, often overseeded onto Bermuda lawns in cooler months for year-round green appearance, adds an additional pollen layer. Grass pollen counts peak from May through August, with the highest levels on warm, dry, windy afternoons.
Ragweed is a significant fall allergen in Spring Valley despite not being native to the Mojave Desert — it has naturalized in disturbed urban soils, construction sites, and along roadsides throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), one of the most prevalent desert plants in the region surrounding Spring Valley, releases copious lightweight pollen from September through November that desert winds carry easily into residential areas. Russian thistle (tumbleweed) is another major fall allergen, producing pollen that spreads widely on desert winds. Pigweed, lamb's quarters, and other desert weeds add to the fall pollen burden.
Dust is Spring Valley's most persistent year-round allergen. The Mojave Desert environment generates fine particulate dust that infiltrates homes through every crack and opening, particularly during the frequent windstorms that sweep through the Las Vegas Valley. Dust mites thrive in homes despite the arid outdoor climate because indoor humidity from cooking, bathing, and evaporative cooling systems creates micro-environments where mites proliferate. Mold spores — particularly Alternaria and Cladosporium — are present year-round, with surprising concentrations in the desert environment due to morning dew cycles and irrigated landscaping. Cockroach allergens are common in apartment complexes and older homes. Pet dander from dogs and cats is a significant trigger for many Spring Valley residents.
Spring Valley's allergy season starts earlier than many residents expect. Ash and elm trees begin pollinating in February as temperatures warm. By late February to early March, the legacy mulberry trees throughout older Spring Valley neighborhoods begin sprouting yellow-green catkins loaded with pollen. Mulberry counts rise rapidly through March. Desert dust becomes increasingly active as winter moisture evaporates and winds pick up. Severity: Moderate (February) to High (March).
This is Spring Valley's most intense allergy period. Mulberry pollen peaks in April, sometimes reaching extreme concentrations in neighborhoods with dense legacy tree populations. As mulberry tapers, European olive pollen — an even more potent allergen — takes over from late April through May. Oak, pine, and mesquite trees add to the pollen mix. Early Bermuda grass pollen begins rising. The dry, windy spring conditions keep pollen airborne far longer than in humid climates. Severity: Very High.
Triple-digit temperatures gradually suppress outdoor pollen production. Bermuda grass pollen remains elevated through June but declines in July's extreme heat (average highs above 105°F). However, indoor allergens intensify as residents seal homes and run air conditioning continuously, creating environments where dust mites and indoor mold thrive. Desert dust storms (haboobs) can occur during monsoon season, sending massive particulate clouds through the valley. Severity: Moderate.
As temperatures begin their slow descent, ragweed pollen rises sharply in August. Sagebrush pollen from the surrounding desert begins in September, carried into Spring Valley by desert winds. Russian thistle adds to the weed pollen load. Mold spore counts increase as monsoon moisture creates brief humid periods that activate spore production, particularly during morning dew cycles. Severity: High.
Sagebrush and ragweed pollen continue into October, with sagebrush often persisting through November. Fall temperature drops trigger increased mold spore activity as irrigated landscaping creates moisture differentials with the surrounding desert air. Desert dust remains a constant background irritant. Severity: Moderate to High (October), Moderate (November).
The closest Spring Valley gets to an allergy-free period. Outdoor pollen is minimal, but indoor allergens — dust mites, pet dander, mold in sealed homes — can worsen as heating systems circulate accumulated dust. Mild winters may trigger early ash or elm pollination by late January, starting the cycle again before expected. Desert wind events continue year-round. Severity: Low to Moderate.
Clark County banned new mulberry and European olive plantings in 1991, but Spring Valley was already heavily developed by then. If you live in older neighborhoods — particularly those built in the 1970s and 1980s when Spring Valley was first developed — look for large, mature mulberry trees with broad canopies. These legacy trees produce massive pollen clouds in March and April. Knowing which allergenic trees surround your home helps you anticipate your worst symptom periods and pretreat with medication before pollen peaks.
Mojave Desert dust is Spring Valley's most persistent allergen. Standard furnace filters are inadequate — upgrade to MERV 13 or higher HEPA-grade filters and change them monthly. Consider a whole-home air purification system, especially if you have forced-air HVAC. Seal gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping. After windstorms, dust accumulates rapidly indoors; wet-mop hard floors rather than sweeping, which just redistributes particles into the air you breathe.
Many Spring Valley residents assume the desert's low outdoor humidity means dust mites and mold aren't a concern indoors. In reality, air conditioning, cooking, and bathing create indoor humidity pockets where mites and mold thrive. If you use an evaporative (swamp) cooler, which adds moisture to indoor air, your home's mold and dust mite risk increases significantly. Monitor indoor humidity with a hygrometer and keep levels between 30–50% — not too dry (which irritates airways) or too moist (which feeds mites and mold).
Pollen counts in the Las Vegas Valley peak between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when calm air allows pollen to settle near ground level. Plan morning runs, Desert Breeze Park visits, or outdoor time at Red Rock Canyon for late afternoon when pollen has dispersed upward with rising air currents. On windy days, desert dust and pollen travel long distances — check airnow.gov for air quality and pollen.com for daily forecasts before heading outdoors.
The Mojave Desert's extremely low humidity (often below 15% outdoors) dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat — your body's first line of defense against airborne allergens. When these membranes dry out, pollen and dust particles penetrate more easily into your respiratory system. Use saline nasal rinses daily, stay well-hydrated (the desert dehydrates you faster than you realize), and consider a bedroom humidifier during winter months when heating further dries indoor air.
Many Spring Valley residents who moved from other states expected the desert climate to cure their allergies. When symptoms persist or even worsen, they assume something is wrong with them rather than recognizing that the Las Vegas Valley has its own robust allergen profile. If you experience congestion, sneezing, or itchy eyes year-round in Spring Valley, comprehensive allergy testing can identify your specific desert-environment triggers — which often differ entirely from what affected you in your previous location.
April and May are typically the worst, when legacy mulberry trees and European olive trees produce peak pollen levels. September is a secondary peak when ragweed and sagebrush pollen surge. Unlike many U.S. cities, Spring Valley's desert environment means allergens are present in some form nearly year-round.
The top outdoor allergens are mulberry tree pollen (spring), European olive pollen (spring), Bermuda grass (summer), ragweed and sagebrush (fall), and desert dust (year-round). Indoor allergens including dust mites, mold, cockroach, and pet dander are significant year-round concerns despite the dry outdoor climate.
Many people relocate to the Las Vegas Valley expecting desert air to relieve their allergies. However, the Mojave Desert has its own potent allergens, and the dry climate actually reduces your natural defenses by drying out nasal mucous membranes. Additionally, non-native plants like mulberry, olive, and Bermuda grass were widely planted throughout Spring Valley, creating an urban allergen environment that didn't exist naturally.
Yes. In 1991, Clark County banned new plantings of fruitless mulberry and European olive trees due to their extreme pollen production. However, thousands of mature trees planted before the ban still exist throughout Spring Valley's older neighborhoods and continue to produce massive amounts of pollen each spring.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists licensed in Nevada. Book a virtual consultation, have allergy blood tests ordered to a convenient local lab, and start personalized treatment — all from home. No waitlist, fast appointments available.
HeyPak allergy drops use sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) to gradually desensitize your immune system to your specific desert-environment triggers — whether that's mulberry, olive, Bermuda grass, ragweed, sagebrush, dust mites, or mold. You place customized drops under your tongue daily at home. Most patients see improvement within 3–6 months, with 3–5 years recommended for lasting relief.
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.
Essentially yes. Tree pollen covers February through June, grass pollen runs April through September, weed pollen lasts August through November, and desert dust plus indoor allergens persist year-round. December and January offer the closest thing to relief, but even then, indoor allergens and occasional dust storms keep symptoms active for sensitive individuals.
Spring Valley, Nevada — an unincorporated community of over 215,000 residents occupying the southwest quarter of the Las Vegas Valley — is ground zero for one of the most persistent myths in allergy medicine: that moving to the desert will cure your allergies. Thousands of people have relocated to Spring Valley and the broader Las Vegas area expecting the arid Mojave Desert climate to provide relief from the pollen, mold, and humidity-driven allergies they suffered elsewhere. Instead, many discover that the Las Vegas Valley has its own robust and distinctive allergen profile, and that desert dryness actually makes allergic reactions worse by reducing the body's natural defenses against airborne particles.
The truth is that Spring Valley's allergy landscape is shaped by a collision between Mojave Desert ecology and aggressive mid-20th-century urban development. The community was founded in the 1970s when Pardee Homes began developing master-planned subdivisions on former racetrack land. As housing spread rapidly through the 1980s and 1990s, landscapers and homeowners planted non-native shade trees and irrigated lawns that transformed a barren desert landscape into a green suburban environment — and introduced potent allergens that didn't previously exist here in significant concentrations.
The most notorious chapter in Spring Valley's allergy history involves two tree species that were so problematic they were legally banned. Starting in the 1950s, fruitless mulberry trees were planted by the thousands across the Las Vegas Valley because they grew fast, provided excellent shade, and tolerated the brutal desert heat. Nearly all were male trees — chosen because they don't produce messy fruit — but males produce enormous quantities of pollen that billow in thick, irritating clouds every spring. By the late 1980s, mulberry pollen had become a public health concern. The mulberry was likely the single most-planted tree in the Las Vegas Valley for three consecutive decades.
European olive trees presented a similar problem: beautiful, heat-tolerant shade trees that produce intensely allergenic pollen. In 1991, Clark County took the extraordinary step of banning new plantings of both fruitless mulberry and European olive trees — a regulation that remains in effect today. However, the ban only prevented new plantings. Thousands of mature mulberry and olive trees planted throughout Spring Valley's 1970s and 1980s neighborhoods still stand, and they continue to produce massive pollen loads every spring. Mulberry trees typically live 40–50 years, meaning many are now reaching the end of their natural lifespan, but olive trees can survive for centuries. The pollen levels in neighborhoods with dense legacy tree populations can reach extreme concentrations — readings above 10,000 mulberry pollen grains per cubic meter have been recorded in the Las Vegas Valley, with a peak of nearly 70,000 grains per cubic meter documented along one tree-lined street.
Beyond the planted urban landscape, Spring Valley sits within the Mojave Desert ecosystem, and native desert plants contribute their own significant allergen load. Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is one of Nevada's most prevalent plants, growing abundantly in the undeveloped desert surrounding the Las Vegas Valley. Its lightweight pollen grains travel easily on wind currents, reaching residential areas miles from the nearest sagebrush stand. Russian thistle — commonly known as tumbleweed — is another major fall allergen that releases pollen as it breaks free from its roots and tumbles across the landscape, a quintessentially desert allergy trigger that residents from other states have never encountered. Ragweed, though not native to the Mojave, has naturalized extensively in the disturbed soils of construction sites, roadsides, and vacant lots that are abundant in the still-growing Las Vegas Valley.
Perhaps the most inescapable allergen in Spring Valley is desert dust itself. The Mojave Desert's fine particulate soil becomes airborne on any windy day, and the Las Vegas Valley experiences frequent wind events that send dust clouds sweeping through residential areas. During monsoon season (July–September), sudden windstorms called haboobs can engulf the entire valley in walls of dust thousands of feet high. This desert dust contains not only mineral particulates that irritate airways but also fungal spores, plant fragments, and other biological material that triggers allergic responses. For residents with allergic asthma, desert dust storms represent a genuine respiratory emergency that requires indoor shelter with air filtration running.
The dry desert air compounds the dust problem by dehydrating the mucous membranes lining the nose and throat. These membranes are the body's primary defense against inhaled particles — when they're moist, they trap allergens before they reach the lungs. In Spring Valley's climate, where outdoor humidity can drop below 10–15%, these natural defenses are significantly compromised. Allergen particles that would be captured by healthy mucous membranes in a humid climate can penetrate deeper into the respiratory system in the desert, triggering more severe reactions.
Many Spring Valley residents assume that the desert's low humidity eliminates indoor allergen concerns like dust mites and mold. This is a dangerous misconception. While outdoor humidity is indeed low, indoor environments in Spring Valley maintain significantly higher moisture levels from air conditioning condensation, cooking, bathing, and especially evaporative (swamp) coolers — which actively add moisture to indoor air. These micro-humid environments inside otherwise dry homes create ideal conditions for dust mite colonies in bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Mold grows in bathrooms, HVAC ductwork, and any area where condensation accumulates. The UNLV/CCSD Pollen Monitoring Program has documented that mold spore concentrations in the Las Vegas Valley are higher than many people expect for a desert environment, with morning dew cycles providing just enough moisture to sustain fungal growth.
Spring Valley's suburban character includes extensive irrigated green spaces that function as concentrated allergen sources within the desert environment. The community is home to golf courses including Spanish Trail Country Club and Rhodes Ranch, which maintain vast expanses of Bermuda grass that produce significant pollen from spring through fall. Desert Breeze Park — one of Clark County's largest at 240 acres — features irrigated turf, trees, and landscaping that create a pollen-producing oasis in the desert. The Springs Preserve, a 180-acre cultural and natural park just northeast of Spring Valley, combines native desert vegetation with cultivated gardens. Each of these green spaces represents a localized allergen source surrounded by otherwise dry desert terrain, creating pollen concentration gradients that shift with wind direction.
Research from UNLV's pollen monitoring program and other studies has documented that allergy seasons in the Las Vegas Valley are growing longer and more intense. Warming temperatures cause trees to pollinate earlier in the year, while delayed fall cooling extends weed pollen seasons later into November. The urban heat island effect — particularly strong in the densely developed Las Vegas Valley — amplifies this trend. Spring Valley residents who have lived in the community for decades report that their allergy symptoms have worsened over time, a pattern consistent with the documented lengthening of pollen seasons across the American Southwest.
Spring Valley's unique combination of legacy urban allergens (mulberry, olive, Bermuda grass), native desert allergens (sagebrush, Russian thistle, dust), and persistent indoor allergens (dust mites, mold) means that over-the-counter antihistamines designed for simple seasonal pollen allergies often fall short. The desert environment demands a more comprehensive approach: identifying your specific triggers through blood allergy testing, addressing both outdoor and indoor allergen sources, and considering immunotherapy to build long-term tolerance rather than just masking symptoms season after season.
HeyAllergy offers Spring Valley residents convenient telemedicine access to board-certified allergists and immunologists — no need to sit in a waiting room during peak pollen season. Through a secure video consultation, your allergist can evaluate your symptoms, order comprehensive blood allergy testing at a convenient local lab, and develop a personalized treatment plan targeting your specific Las Vegas Valley triggers. For patients who qualify, HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops — customized to your blood test results and the allergens endemic to the Spring Valley area — can be delivered directly to your home and taken daily under the tongue. Most patients notice improvement within 3–6 months, with 3–5 years of treatment recommended for lasting relief. Starting at $47/month, HeyPak offers a path to freedom from the desert allergy cycle — no needles, no clinic visits, no fighting Las Vegas traffic.
