Summary
Grass pollen is increasing inland and tree and weed pollen is low at most of these South African sampling sites.
Cape Town
Late summer pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included Australian pine (Casuarina) the dominant tree), lemon (Citron), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were aloe (Asphelodaceae), carnation (Caryophyllaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), knotweeds (Periscaria) and the carrot and celery family (Apiaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Low pollen concentrations for grass and tree and weed pollen were seen at this site. Trees included the dominant tree olive (Oleaceae). gum (Myrtaceae), false olive (Buddleia), ebony (Ebenaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), fern spores (Polypodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
This site is being counted every third week. Past averages are low tree concentrations which include mulberry (Moraceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds are usually sedges (Cyperaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and moulds are currently low.
Bloemfontein
Pollen counts from the same period in 2025 are shown. Moderate grass concentrations were seen at this site, and moderate trees. The dominant types were mulberry (Moraceae) and olive (Oleaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Other trees included acacia (Acacia-type), cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betulaceae), ash (Fraxinus), false olive (Buddleja), poplar) Populaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were moderate too and these the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and mallows (Malvaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Averaged counts were used. Grasses would moderate. Low trees are likely to include karee (Searsia). Low weeds would be the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds would be low to moderate depending on rain patterns.
Durban
This strip was not read and means are shown for the past six years. At this time of the year pollen would be found in low concentrations in the atmosphere. Trees would be gum (Myrtaceae), birch (Betula), ebony (Ebenaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), palm (Arecaceae), mulberry (MOraceae), peppertree (Schinus), karee (Rhus) and Casuarina (Australian pine. Weeds would be ragweed (Ambrosia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticacea). Moulds would be low to moderate.
Gqeberha
Grasses were low at this site as were tree and weed pollen. Trees included gum (Myrtaceae), the dominant tree, cedar (Cedrus), waxberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiacae) and moulds were low.
George
Low grass concentrations were seen at this site and no tree or weed pollen was detected. Moulds were similarly 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