Pollenservice Wien

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The catkins of hornbeam release pollen which becomes visible here as a pollen cloud (video ©Katharina Bastl (MedUni Vienna/Pollenservice Vienna), calendar week 12).

Hornbeam flowers usually from mid of March until mid of May. This plant is called Carpinus scientifically and it belongs to the birch family. The allergen is very similar to the birch allergen due to this close taxonomic relationship, which may cause a cross-allergy for those with a birch pollen allergy.

Figure: male, open flowers of current, important aeroallergens, birch (left), oak (upper right) and plane tree (lower right).

Mid- and long-term forecast for Vienna

This forecast gives you an overview for a longer time period so that you can improve your planning.

Weather causes an Up and Down in pollination!

The weather conditions for pollination improve towards the weekend. This can cause up to high pollination, at least on short-term, for the current main aeroallergen, birch and for the plane tree as well. Weather changes from a current point of view during Sunday so that conditions for pollination deteriorate.

The full flower of birch trees is fading. Most of birches finished flowering locally in the city area. This becomes apparent due to the brown color of the catkins and masses of catkins that have fallen of the trees. High pollen concentrations may be reached again short-term on sunny days and when air flows transport additional birch pollen from other places.

Other members of the birch and beech family flower as well:
Hornbeam and hop hornbeam finished flowering. Oak and beech are in their main pollination period. All of them are cross-reactive with birch as well and can intensify symptoms in persons with birch pollen allergy.

The flower of most ash trees has ended. However, pollination from ash will increase soon as the flower of Manna ash will start now. This tree is insect pollinated, but relevant amounts of pollen are released into the air. Manna ash can be frequently found in Vienna as city tree.

Plane tree is in full flower in urban areas and high pollination is probably on days with fair weather. It is a popular city tree and thus can cause due to its frequency rapidly high pollination that lasts about two weeks.

Walnut starts to flower.

Pollination profile
Birch:
state of the flower: main pollination period/pollination
trend: constant
time of the start of the flower: average

Ash: 
state of the flower: end of the main pollination period/pollination
trend: constant
time of the start of the flower: average

Plane tree:
state of the flower: begin of the flower/high pollination
trend: constant
time of the start of the flower: average

Oak:
state of the flower: begin of the flower/pollination
trend: increasing
time of the start of the flower: average

Beech:
state of the flower: begin of the flower/pollination
trend: increasing
time of the start of the flower: average

You can find the typical pollen seasons in our pollen calendar. 

Pollen spectrum:
Pollen from maple, willow, poplar, the rush family, the rose family, cypress and yew is also in the air.

Current main allergen: Birch

Birch pollen allergy is the second most prevalent pollen allergy in Vienna!
Pollination time in Vienna: March to May

Occurrence in Vienna: Birch shows a lot of characteristics resulting in being a pioneer species (low habitat demands, frost resistant, heat resistant). It is frequently planted in parks and gardens for decorative purposes.

Who is “the birch“?Weeping, silver or white birch (Betula pendula): It is popular as decorative plant and widespread.
Downy birch (Betula pubescens): It is found in collin to subalpine regions (up to 2.000m altitude).
Dwarf birch (Betula humilis): This species occurs mostly in bog woodlands and is of low relevance in Vienna.
Alpine birch (Betula nana): This birch species is not a tree, but a (dwarf) shrub, that occurs in Middle Europe at higher altitudes or on moor soils as well as in the North of Europe and is therefore insignificant for Vienna.

Cross-reactivity to pollen of other plants: alder, hazel and hornbeam

• The Pollenservice Vienna is part of the University Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Medical University of Vienna.
• The collaboration with GeoSphere Austria involves comparing forecasts and exchanging pollen and weather data. 
• We cooperate scientifically with the Sonnblick Observatory of GeoSphere Austria.