Here’s a quick guide of the best and worst flowers for the allergy prone. And the good news is that a whole lot of pretty made the best list.
RANUNCULUS. First up on the A-ok list, we have one of the current “It girls” of the popular-flower crowd. Pleasingly symmetrical and packed with layer upon layer of tissue-thin petals, ranunculus are style chameleons that can play romantic, whimsical, or modern depending the vessel and setting.
TULIPS. True story: Tulips come in a mind-blowing 3,000 varieties. So there are puh-lenty to love. And luckily, you and little Sneezy can! Especially since they’re one of the most no-arranging-needed flowers around. Just stick a bunch in a clear-glass vase highlighting the clean lines of their stems and you’ve got yourself an allergy-free display.
HYDRANGEAS. As puffy as clouds, these blossoms are conveniently hypoallergenic and great for adding easy (affordable) volume to arrangements. It’s a win-win!
ROSES. Whew. Your man can bring you a dozen of these beauties—long-stemmed—and you two won’t wind up with a red-eyed, runny-nosed kiddo on your hands. Allergy-issue solved, now you’ve just got to work on the hinting-you’d-like-flowers-every-now-and-again aspect of this equation.
Other blooms generally in the safe zone: Peonies, begonia, clematis, columbine, crocus, daffodil, orchids, geranium, hosta, iris, calla lilies, periwinkle, zinnia.
HYACINTHS. Allergy sufferers will need to take a pass on these stalks bursting with fragrant, bell-shaped blooms. They have high concentrations of pollen likely to bring on the snuffles.
SUNFLOWERS. Though nothing says summer like a bright, mood-boosting sunflower, each sunflower center is a little pollen factory and majorly allergy-triggering. Bummer.
DAISIES. That fantasy of running through a field of daisies, plucking them willy-nilly, and sticking them devil-may-care in mason jars back home for the perfect just-picked look? Yeah. Forget it. And forget the daisy chains of your youth, too. Allergy central over here.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Spiky, bold, and striking, these old-school classics should come with a tissue box on the side. But the good news is that several recent hybrid varieties have been developed with more petal, less pollen, so just take a careful look when purchasing.
Other blooms to avoid: Freesia, chamomile, jasmine, asters, single-flower baby’s breath.
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
You just upped my floral IQ by another level. Love every tip. Never thought I knew how to arrange flowers but my confidence is building!