Pollen calendar: what blooms when in each part of Spain

Key rules

• Main culprit: Grasses cause the most pollen allergy in Spain, followed by olive.
• Winter pollen: Cypress peaks in winter, from January to March depending on region.
• Live counts: AEMET does not publish pollen counts; use the allergy society and regional aerobiology networks.
• Local variation: Timing shifts by province, altitude, coast or inland, and year.

The short version

Grasses cause the most pollen allergy in Spain. Olive comes next, especially in Andalusia and the centre. Cypress peaks in winter, plane tree in March–April, and grasses and olive in spring. Parietaria and Salsola run from late spring into summer. Timing shifts with region, altitude and weather, so use the live counts below for the real picture.

Other pollens that matter are Artemisia (mugwort), Plantago, Salsola (Russian thistle, mostly in the southeast and Mediterranean) and birch in the north.

Andalusia

• January–February: cypress (Cupressaceae).
• March–April: plane tree.
• April–June: olive, the main allergen here. It is strongest in May, especially around Jaén, Córdoba and Seville. Grasses and Plantago peak in the same months. Oak peaks in April–May.
• Spring and again in autumn: Parietaria and Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae.
• Summer to early autumn: Artemisia. Alternaria mould spores peak in summer–autumn.

Madrid

• January–March: cypress and other Cupressaceae. Ash, poplar and elm also release pollen in winter and early spring.
• March–April: plane tree.
• May–June: olive and Plantago. Grasses, the main cause of allergy here, peak in the same months and sometimes run into early July. They can be higher after a rainy spring.
• June–August: Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae.

Dry or wet winters can shift the whole season.

Catalonia

• Winter: alder and hazel.
• January–March: cypress.
• March–April: plane tree. Birch follows in spring.
• May–June: grasses and olive.
• March to October: Parietaria, a main allergen on the coast.
• Summer: Chenopodiaceae.

The coast, inland areas and the Pyrenees differ, so check local counts.

Where to get pollen counts

AEMET, the state weather agency, does not publish pollen counts. These bodies do:

• Polenes: the platform of the Spanish allergy society, with stations across Spain.
• Red Española de Aerobiología: a national network run by the Spanish Aerobiology Association.
• Red Andaluza de Aerobiología: for Andalusia.
• Xarxa Aerobiològica de Catalunya: for Catalonia.
• Madrid regional health service (Salud Pública): publishes forecasts and counts.
• Other regions: Valencia and Galicia have local university or health-department stations.

Websites change, so search each network by name to find its current address.

How to use this

Check the count for your own area in the weeks before your usual peak. If you plan to move, compare your allergens with the region's calendar first. If you already have symptoms, see a doctor before the season starts. The timeline and FAQ below give the peaks at a glance.

Timeline and deadlines

• Cypress peaks in Andalusia: January to February

• Cypress peaks in Madrid and Catalonia: January to March

• Plane tree peaks in all three regions: March to April

• Grass peaks in Andalusia: April to June

• Olive peaks in Andalusia, strongest in May around Jaén, Córdoba and Seville: April to June

• Grass and olive peak in Madrid: grass May to June, sometimes into early July; olive May to June

• Grass and olive peak in Catalonia: May to June

• Parietaria runs in Catalonia: March to October

• Artemisia (mugwort) peaks in Madrid: July to September

• Ragweed and Artemisia peak in Catalonia: August to September

Frequently asked questions

Which pollen causes the most allergy in Spain?

Grass pollen is the leading cause of pollen allergy in Spain, followed by olive, especially in Andalusia and central Spain. Cypress, plane tree, Parietaria and Salsola (Russian thistle, common in the southeast and Mediterranean) also matter in some areas.

Does AEMET publish pollen counts in Spain?

No, AEMET, Spain's weather agency, does not publish pollen counts. Use the allergy society's Polenes platform or your regional network: Andalusia, Catalonia and Madrid each have one, and Valencia and Galicia have local university or health-department stations.

When is Parietaria in season on the Catalan coast?

Parietaria (pellitory) runs from March to October in Catalonia and is a main allergen on the coast. In Andalusia it peaks in spring and again in autumn, so coastal sufferers get a long season.

Can the pollen season change from year to year?

Yes, peaks shift with the weather, the altitude and the station, so treat months as a guide. In Madrid, grass pollen can be higher after a rainy spring, and dry or wet winters move the season.