Weekly Report

1 August 2025

City
Overall Risk
Tree Pollen
Grass Pollen
Weed Pollen
Mould Spores

Summary

In Gauteng (Johannesburg, Vanderbijlpark, Pretoria), the trees have begun their pollen release cycle, and cypress is dominant in these cities. High tree concentrations were also detected in Bloemfontein, where the dominant tree is the olive.

Cape Town

Tree, grass and weed pollen were very low at this site during a week with frequent rain and low temperatures. Tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weed pollen included erica (Ericaceae), and moulds were very low.

Johannesburg

Tree pollen is high at this site, with cypress (Cupressaceae) maintaining the leading place. Other trees included bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae). poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Searsia). No weed pollen was detected, and moulds were very low.

Johannesburg South

Tree pollen is increasing at this site, and cypress (Cupressaceae) has breached the significant threshold. Other trees in the air included karee Searia), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), birch (Betulus) and Australian pine (Casuarina). Only bulrush (Typhaceae) was detected in the category of weeds, and moulds were consistently low.

Pretoria

Grasses increased to moderate levels and the tree pollen concentrations also increased at this site. Trees were bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the carrot and celery family (Apiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae) ferns (Polypodiaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.

Bloemfontein

Tree pollen is now high at this site. Trees detected were sumac (Anacardiaceae), hackberry (Celtis), guarri (Euclea), waxberry (Morella), forest elder (Nuxia), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and mesquite (Prosopis). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), iris (Iridaceae) and knotweed (Pericardia). Moulds were low.

Kimberley

Pollen concentrations were low. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), buckthorns (Rhamnaceae), karee (Searsia), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.

Durban

Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low. Trees detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), monkey-puzzle (Araucariaceae), sumac (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulus), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae) and willow (Salix). Weeds were mallow (Malvaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria). Moulds were generally low, but peaks were seen for Cladosporium and Epicoccum, both allergenic moulds.

Gqeberha

This wet and windy had extremely low pollen and mould concentrations for the past week. Very low grasses and no weed pollen were detected, and the only tree pollen that was seen was karee (Searsia).

George

Pollen and mould concentrations were low at this coastal town after a week of rain and low temperatures. Grasses were extremely low and no tree or weed pollen was detected.

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