Can dried flowers cause allergies?
If you suffer from pollen or dust allergies, it can sometimes seem like nature is conspiring against you. From the beginning of the tree pollen season, right through to the end of harvest, pollen and dust are swirling about outside, triggering allergies and causing the dreaded symptoms of sneezing, swollen and watery eyes, sore throats, rashes, and even asthma. Perhaps you can't even brighten up your home with flowers for the same reason - for some, just the scent of flowers can cause a reaction.
With dried flowers, it may be possible to bring some beautiful nature indoors without all the sneezing and itchy eyes. It's almost like having hypoallergenic flowers!
Do dried flowers have pollen?
Seasonal allergies caused by the pollen from a tree, grass, or plant are usually the cause of an allergic reaction, sending the sufferer's immune system into defence-mode, and bringing on the nasty symptoms outlined above. With a dried version, this pollen is no longer present at a level that is likely to trigger a reaction - we can't say that is definitely all gone, but most of it will be! Essentially, these flowers are hypoallergenic, meaning they are less likely to trigger allergies.
What dried flowers are best for people with allergies?
While every person is different, if you are allergic to flowers, we believe the following should be a good indicator as to what may, and may not, work for allergy sufferers.
Dried flowers to try if you have allergies:
- Daisy-like flowers with crisp petals and centres, such as Helichrysum, Acrolinium, Rodanthe.
- Dried roses don't retain much scent, have very little residue and are very versatile.
- Statice, Limonium, Marcela, Ixodia, and Glixia have small, crisp flowers and very little residue. They are great as fillers and accent flowers.
- Dried palms are great for structure and height, and have a paper/card finish with no residue. They tolerate a good dusting too!
- Delphiniums and Larkspur have neat dried flowers that are softer in texture but have almost no residue.
- Dried or preserved Gypsophila is a good filler product that doesn't tend to cause allergy problems. Be cautious with bleached varieties, however, as these can sometimes retain a strong odour, which may not be suitable for everyone.
- Cereals tend not to be dusty when dried and prepared, and they make great additions to displays and bouquets.
- Non-dusty grasses, such as Babala and Typha are great for height and structure with designs. They look wonderful when dyed too!
Dried flowers to avoid if you have allergies:
- Are dried flowers better for hay fever?
Yes. Due to the trace amounts of pollen and scent, there are fewer irritants associated with dried flowers, making them less likely to cause allergic reactions.
- What flowers are good for people with hayfever?
Most dried flowers have only trace amounts of pollen - some even have none at all - so it allows pollen-allergy sufferers to choose the wide variety of florals on the market without worry.
If your allergies are triggered by other factors, such as fluff, dust and scents, then it's best to avoid products like pampas and other plumed grasses. Botao and similar dusty products, and oil, scented items like eucalyptus can also trigger allergies.
- Can flowers in the house cause allergies?
Many allergy sufferers find that having flowers in the home can cause reactions. However, this is more likely to be fresh flowers as they are usually laden with pollen and more highly scented.
To avoid this, try dried or preserved flowers and florals.
What can I do with Dried Flowers?
The creative possibilities with dried flowers are huge. A glance at Pinterest or Instagram shows the work of many talented florists and crafters who use dried flowers to create displays, arrangements, bouquets, wreaths, and more. Why not check out our boards to get some inspiration?
Are you ready to get creative?
We hope you're feeling inspired to make something amazing with our dried flowers. Why not share your designs and makes with us on social media? There's nothing we like more than to be tagged on Instagram when you've made something beautiful using our products. If you would like to have your design or installation featured on our story, just get in touch! @atlasflowers
View our dried flower collections now.