Elm pollen allergy
Ulmus
Most elms flower in late winter and spring, before their leaves open. A few, such as cedar elm, flower in late summer and fall.
What it is
Elm pollen comes from trees in the genus Ulmus. About 20 elm species are native to the Northern Hemisphere, and none is native to western North America.2 Native US elms include American, slippery, winged, rock, September and cedar elm. Siberian elm and Chinese elm, also called lacebark elm, are Asian species.2
American elm, the best known, grows throughout eastern North America.3 Its flowers appear 2 to 3 weeks before the leaves, and the trees are pollinated by wind.3 Elm flowers are small and easy to miss, and most species have reddish anthers, the parts that hold the pollen.2
AAFA includes elm in its list of trees that cause pollen allergy.1 University of Illinois Extension also lists elm among the allergenic trees.4
Symptoms it causes
Like other allergy-causing pollen, elm pollen can trigger hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, when it gets into the body.6 Common symptoms of a tree pollen allergy include a runny or stuffy nose, postnasal drip, sneezing, an itchy nose, eyes, ears and mouth, and red, watery or swollen eyes. Some people also cough, wheeze or feel short of breath.1
If you have asthma and are allergic to tree pollen, the pollen can trigger your asthma symptoms.1 Hay fever symptoms generally end once exposure to the pollen ends.5
Where and when it grows
Most elms flower in spring, before the leaves appear.2 American elm flower buds swell as early as February in the South and as late as May in Canada.3 Winged elm flowers from February to April, American and slippery elm from February to May, and Siberian elm in March and April.2
Elms vary more than most trees in when they flower. Their normal flowering period can differ by more than 2 to 3 weeks between species that can cross with each other.2
Three elms break the spring pattern and flower in late summer or fall: cedar elm, lacebark elm and September elm.2 Cedar elm grows from southwest Tennessee, Arkansas and southern Oklahoma to southern Texas, Louisiana and western Mississippi, and it flowers in August and September.2 September elm, found from Kentucky and southern Illinois to northern Alabama and northwest Georgia, flowers in September. Lacebark elm flowers in August and September.2
Symptoms it can cause
When to get help
See an allergist if
- Allergy symptoms last for several months of the year
- Allergies bring repeated sinus problems, a blocked nose or trouble breathing
- Over-the-counter remedies don’t control your symptoms
- Allergies or asthma get in the way of daily life
- You often wheeze, cough at night or after exercise, or feel short of breath
Based on ACAAI’s “When To See an Allergist”. General information, not medical advice.
Questions
Can elm pollen cause allergies in the fall?
It can in some places. Cedar elm, lacebark (Chinese) elm and September elm flower in late summer or fall rather than spring. Cedar elm grows from southwest Tennessee, Arkansas and southern Oklahoma to southern Texas, Louisiana and western Mississippi.2
When do elms flower?
It depends on where you are. American elm flower buds swell as early as February in the South and as late as May in Canada, and the flowers appear 2 to 3 weeks before the leaves.3
Do elms grow in the western US?
Not as natives. No elm is native to western North America. Native US elms such as American, slippery, winged and cedar elm grow from the eastern states west to the Plains and Texas, and Siberian and Chinese elm are Asian species.2
Sources
- Tree Pollen Allergy. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Read on October 15, 2026.
- Ulmaceae—Elm family: Ulmus L., elm. USDA Forest Service, Woody Plant Seed Manual. Read on October 15, 2026.
- Ulmus americana L., American Elm. USDA Forest Service, Silvics of North America. Read on October 15, 2026.
- Allergenic Plants. University of Illinois Extension. Read on October 15, 2026.
- Spring Allergies. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Read on October 15, 2026.
- Allergens and Pollen. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read on October 15, 2026.