Ragweed Not Goldenrod the Real Hay Fever Culprit

Hay fever, the common name for allergic rhinitis, is a seasonal, pollen-related condition. Although different types of pollen affect different individuals, even as different persons suffer experience different symptoms, there are certain varieties of plant pollen that affect more individuals than others do.

One plant believed by many to be a serious cause of difficulty to those afflicted with hay fever is goldenrod, of which there are many varieties. In fact, this is largely a myth. As the Great Plains Nature Center informs us, "Goldenrod gets mistakenly blamed for the agonies of hay fever sufferers in autumn. It blooms at the same time as ragweeds (Ambrosia sp.), which are the real culprit."¹

Why Ragweed is such a Hay Fever Culprit

Ragweed pollinates by releasing pollen into the air. Ragweed could not survive as a species if a lot of pollen particles were not released, and it is this very abundance of ragweed pollen particles that aggravates hay fever sufferers. The particles are not only numerous, they are light.

Why Goldenrod is not a Hay Fever Culprit

Goldenrod does not pollinate by this means, but rather, by insect pollination. Goldenrod pollen does not readily become air-borne, because the particles are larger and heavier. Plus, since goldenrod is an insect-pollinated plant, there isn't the need for an "overkill" of pollen to accomplish the task.

Why is Ragweed sometimes Misidentified?

Ragweed blooms, but the blooms are very simple, and are not colorful. In fact, they do not actually look to the casual observer like blooms at all. Goldenrod, as its name implies, is a very rich yellow, showy, and thus unfortunately identified with what most people view as a pollen source-a flower. By way of visible demonstration, see this image of Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia) and this page of images of Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida).

^{1 Goldenrod}