Summary
Grasses were high at the inland sites: Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Kimberley and high tree counts were seen in Bloemfontein and Durban. Moulds were high in Durban.
Cape Town
Grasses were low. Tree counts were low but varied and included sumac (Anacardiaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), the dominant tree eucalyptus/gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), hemp (Cannabis), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
The pollen and mould counts were extremely low due to torrential rain over three days of this sampling period. Trees included Australian pine (Casuarina) and weeds were lily (Liliaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
6-year means are shown. Grasses at this time of the year are moderate. Trees are low but varied and might include gum (Myrtaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), karee (Searsia), Australian pine (Casuarina), birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), poplar (Populaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds might be ragweed (Ambrosia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds at this time are generally low.
Bloemfontein
Grasses were moderate. High tree counts included the dominant tree, birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), eucalyptus/gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Low weed counts included mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low with occasional small peaks for the allergenic mould Cladosporium.
Kimberley
Grasses were moderate. Low tree concentrations included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betula), the dominant tree poplar (Populaceae) oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Low weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Grasses were low. The significant tree concentrations continued and included palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), Australian pine (Casuarina), pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae), the dominant tree mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), reeds (Restionaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae), Fern spore (Polypodiaceae) were seen. Moulds were high with peaks for Cladosporium, smuts and basidiospores (includes mushrooms).
Gqeberha
Pollen was low in all three categories. Trees included Australian pine (Casuarina), cedar (Cedrus), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), coffee bush (Bruniaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae), reeds (Restionaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and dandelion (Taraxacum). Moulds were low.
George
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low at this sampling site. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), Guarri (Euclea), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), katstert (Anthospermum), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and mugwort (Artemisia) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low. Findings for the same time period in 2025 due to courier failure.
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