WHEN IS MOUNTAIN CEDAR SEASON?
Mountain cedar season occurs from December through mid-February, when the male trees pollinate. The peak of cedar season usually occurs in mid-January, when a cubic meter of air can contain 10,000+ of grains of pollen.
WHAT IS MOUNTAIN CEDAR?
Technically, mountain cedar trees aren’t cedar trees at all! The plant we know as “mountain cedar” is actually ashe juniper (juniperus ashei).
Around Texas, ashe juniper trees mainly grow in the Hill Country, with male trees pollinating late in the year. By December, wind can easily pick up the tree pollen, spreading the irritating pollen grains across South Central Texas. By Valentine’s Day, most of the tree pollen has blown from the trees or is washed out of the air, and cedar season comes to an end.
THE MOUNTAIN CEDAR POLLEN SCALE
Here’s how the pollen scale for mountain cedar works:
| CATEGORY | POLLEN GRAINS PER CUBIC METER OF AIR |
|---|---|
| LOW | 1 - 99 |
| MODERATE | 100 - 499 |
| HIGH | 500 - 9,999 |
| VERY HIGH | ABOVE 10,000 |
HOW TO TREAT A MOUNTAIN CEDAR ALLERGY
Because everyone reacts differently to a mountain cedar allergy, most allergists suggest using many different treatments. Try consistently taking an allergy pill or using a nasal spray. Allergy drops are also helpful for many. When all else fails, allergy shots from a specialist is another option.
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