Respira
Cottonwood and poplar pollen allergy
Cottonwood is famous for the wrong thing. The white fluff that fills the air in early summer is seed, not pollen, and it is too large to be inhaled deeply — the actual pollen was released weeks earlier and is invisible. People often blame the fluff they can see for symptoms caused by something they cannot.
Season
March to May for the pollen; the seed fluff comes in June.
Pollen seasons shift with latitude and elevation — the same species can start six weeks apart in Texas and Minnesota — so treat these months as the shape of the year rather than a date to plan around. Respira shows the level measured for your own location each day.
Symptoms commonly associated with it
The pollen is associated with rhinitis and conjunctivitis in spring. The summer fluff can be a mechanical irritant, which is a different thing from an allergic response.
Where it occurs
Along rivers and irrigation across the West and Great Plains, and widely planted for shade and windbreaks.
Track it day by day
Respira reports cottonwood and poplar pollen for your location every day, alongside the other ten species measured across the United States, air quality on the EPA scale, and a symptom diary you can export for your allergist.
Other allergens in the United States
Respira is an informational tool. It does not replace diagnosis or advice from a medical professional.