Summary
Grass concentrations were moderate in Kimberley and trees and weeds were high in Durban.
Cape Town
Tree, grass and weed pollen was low at this site. Trees included gum (Myrtaceae), palm (Arecaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus) and Natal Plum (Carissa). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), hemp (Cannabis) and bulrush (Typhaceae) and moulds were low.
Johannesburg
All pollen concentrations at this site were low. Trees included only mulberry (Morus) and gum (Myrtaceae) and weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Pollen in all categories would be low at this site. Trees might include waxberry (Morella), mulberry (Moraceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), peppertree (Schinus) and Cape Holly (Ilex). Weeds are likely to be ragweed (Ambrosia), plantain (Plantaginaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) would be present. 5-year means were calculated.
Bloemfontein
Pollen was low across all three categories. Trees included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and lily (Liliaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were present and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Grass counts were high. Low tree counts included birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and ash (Fraxinus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and gentians (Gentianaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Trees counts were high and included maple (Acer), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), Australian pine (Casuarina), bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtcaeae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), chestnut (Hippocastanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were ice plants (Aizoaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), ragweed (Ambrosia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), protea (Proteaceae), reeds (Restionaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were moderate.
Gqeberha
Tree, grass and weed concentrations were low at this sampling site. Trees were gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type) and moulds were low.
George
Tree, grass and weed pollen was detected in low quantities. Trees included elm (Ulmaceae), birch (Betulus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low. These findings are repeated from the same period in 2025, as the spore trap is not operating.
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