Hay fever season and sending flowers

How common hay fever is

Healthify, New Zealand's health information site, says about 1 in 5 New Zealanders have hay fever, and that pollen, especially from grasses, is a common trigger. In other words, in an office of twenty people, a handful may be affected, so it is worth thinking about where flowers will sit as well as who they are for.

The pollen calendar, from north to south

The University of Auckland's expert advice, published in December 2025, describes the season like this: it starts in spring with tree pollens, and by October more grass pollen is released, which lasts through to Christmas. Perennial ryegrass is one of the main culprits, and most pollen is released between 6am and noon.

Allergy New Zealand's pollen calendar, prepared with a Massey University specialist, adds some detail:

• Trees such as birch, oak and plane mainly release pollen from September to November.
• Grasses mainly run from November to January or February, with pollen highest in the early morning.
• Geography matters: the season usually starts earlier in the north and finishes later in the south of New Zealand.

The calendar also lists pōhutukawa and rātā from November to February or March, but marks this as anecdotal and in need of research, so we wouldn't read too much into it.

Occasions that fall in the sneezing season

Because tree pollen arrives in spring and grass pollen runs from October to Christmas, several big flower-giving dates fall right in the middle of hay fever season:

• Father's Day, the first Sunday in September: 6 September 2026 and 5 September 2027.
• Labour Day weekend: Monday 26 October 2026 and Monday 25 October 2027.
• Diwali: Sunday 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027.
• December graduations: for example, the University of Otago's ceremonies on 12, 16 and 19 December 2026, and Victoria University of Wellington's on 9 to 11 December 2026.
• Christmas, when grass pollen is still in the air.

If you are sending to someone in the south, remember that the season usually finishes later there than in the north.

What the sources do and don't say about bouquets

Every source we found points to wind-borne pollen from grasses and trees as the main cause of hay fever. We found no New Zealand source that rates bouquet flowers for hay fever, so we don't label any arrangement as "hypoallergenic" and we would be wary of anyone who does.

What we can say is that strong scents bother some people. Dunstan Hospital in Clyde welcomes flowers but asks visitors to avoid lilies and strongly scented arrangements, as these can cause allergic reactions for some patients and staff. That is sensible guidance for anyone sending to a sensitive recipient.

Sending to a hospital ward

Hospitals have their own reasons for limiting flowers, often to protect patients with breathing problems or weak immune systems. There is no single rule for all New Zealand hospitals, so always check with the ward before sending. Some examples:

• Dunedin Hospital does not allow fresh flowers in intensive care, high dependency, oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, surgical or medical wards, or in multi-bed rooms, because of the risk to patients with respiratory disorders.
• Waikato Hospital does not allow flowers in Critical Care, because patients with fragile lungs are often present.
• Christchurch Hospital does not permit flowers anywhere; its gift shops sell flower vouchers so flowers can be delivered when the patient goes home.
• The former Nelson Marlborough district visiting policy, archived in December 2023, stated that patients who are immunocompromised or in isolation, and patients in ICU, HDU, IMCU or SCBU (special care baby unit), should not receive flowers.

Thoughtful ways to send during pollen season

• Ask first. If you know the recipient has hay fever, a quick question is better than a guess.
• Go easy on scent. Following the Dunstan Hospital guidance, choose a lightly scented arrangement over lilies or heavily perfumed flowers.
• Deliver to the right place. A bouquet on a shared office desk affects everyone nearby; a home delivery may be kinder.
• Consider timing. Grass pollen runs from October to Christmas, the same weeks as many graduations, so see our graduation guide if you are planning a December bouquet.
• Keep an alternative in mind. A card now and flowers later, or a gift that isn't flowers, can be just as welcome.

For what is flowering when, see our seasonal flower calendar.