Weekly Report

18 July 2025

City
Overall Risk
Tree Pollen
Grass Pollen
Weed Pollen
Mould Spores

Summary

The low temperatures at all sites continue to inhibit pollen and mould concentrations in the air, but the trees are stirring, as indicated by the greater variety of tree pollen at inland sites.

Cape Town

Pollen and mould concentrations remain extremely low after more rain and low temperatures. Trees detected were olive (Oleaceae) and weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and sorrel (Rumex).

Johannesburg

At this time of the year when the temperature drops below freezing as it did this week, pollen and moulds are all low but the tree concentrations are beginning to increase. Trees releasing pollen would include birch (Betulus), cypress (Cupressaceae), willow (Salix), karee (Searsia), linden (Tiliaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds would be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sorrel (Rumex) and mallows (Malvaceae). Moulds are low 5-year means are shown.

Johannesburg South

No findings were sent from this site.

Pretoria

At this time of the year, there is little pollen in the air and moulds are scanty. Tree pollen is likely to be cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betulus). palm (Arecaceae), Australian oak (Casuarina), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia), mulberry (Moraceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds might be sorrel (Rumex), slangbos (Stoebe-type), hopbush (Dodonaea), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria). Moulds are low. 5-year means are shown due to courier failure.

Bloemfontein

Tree, grass and weed pollen were very low. Trees detected were sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and olive (Oleaceae. Weeds pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), ericas (Ericaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae) and moulds were extremely low.

Kimberley

All pollen and mould concentrations were low. Tree pollen included sumac (Anacardiaceae), white stinkwood (Celtis), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were erica (Ericaceae), ferns, buttercups (Ranunculaceae) and nightshade (Solanaceae).

Durban

All pollen and mould concentrations are low at this time of the year. Trees might be Norfolk pine (Araucariaceae), beech (Fagus sylvatica), Australian pine (Casuarina), saxifrage (Saxifraga), karee (Searsia), forest elder (Nuxia) and waxberry (Morella). Weeds would be the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), ferns (Polypodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and geranium (Geranaceae). Moulds are low. 5-year means are shown due to courier failure.

Gqeberha

Pollen in all three categories was in low concentrations in the air. Trees included cedar (Cedrus), cypress (Cupressaceae), persimmon (Ebenaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were katstert (Anthospermum), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), reeds (Restionaceae) and blacktips (Bruniaceae). Moulds were low.

George

Low tree, grass and weed pollen has been seen at this time of the year. Trees were bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds are low.

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