This is the last posting for 2025. Pollen reports will resume in mid-January when the universities reopen.
Summary
Tree and weed concentrations were low at all the sites, but grass is moderate in Pretoria.
Cape Town
Tree, grass and weed pollen was low. Trees were birch (Betula), sumac (Anacardiaceae), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), oak (Quercus), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia), sedges (Cyperaceae) goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were very low.
Johannesburg
Low pollen concentrations were seen at this site. Trees included birch (Betula), Australian pine (Casuarina), bushwillow (Combretaceae), guarri (Euclea), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Grass pollen is moderate at this time of the year. Trees are low and include acacia (Acacia-type), cypress (Cupressaceae), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus) and birch (Betula). Weeds would be plantain (Plantaginaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds ware low. 5-year means were used.
Bloemfontein
The spore trap is not operating. 5-year means show that trees, grass and weeds are low at this time of the year. Trees include pine (Pinaceae), palm (Arecaceae) ash (Fraxinus), birch (Betula)false olive (Buddleja), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae. Weeds would be plantain (Plantaginaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae)sedges (Cyperaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds are low.
Kimberley
5- year means are shown. Trees would include ash (Fraxinus), elm (Ulmaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds would be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds would be low.
Durban
Pollen was low in all three categories at this site. Trees included pecan (Carya), mulberry (Moraceae), birch (Betula), oak (Quercus) and ebony (Ebenaceae). Weeds were mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae). Knotweed (Persicaria), mallows (Malvaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low with occasional spikes for ascospores and basidiospores (Includes mushroom) after rain.
Gqeberha
No pollen counts re available so 5-year year means are shown. Trees are likely to be (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), Australian pine (Casuarina), karee (Searsia), olive (Oleaceae), acacia (Acacia-type) and monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae). Weeds would be pigweed (Amaranthaceae), erica (Ericaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), katstert (Anthospermum), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Moulds would be low.
George
All pollen counts would be low at this time of the year.t this time of the year trees would include bushwillow (Combtretaceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds would be sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae) and moulds would be low. 2-year averages are show.
Reference Range
Grass: Low: 0-5 Moderate: 6-20 High: 21-200
Trees: Low: 0-15 Moderate: 16-90 High: 91-1500
Weeds: Low: 0-10 Moderate: 10-50 High: 51-500
Moulds: Low: 0-900 Moderate: 900-2500 High 2500-25000
Unit: per cubic metre