New data released by the University of Cape Town Lung Institute shows that high to very high tree pollen levels were observed across most of South Africa – especially in Bloemfontein, for the week up to 16 September 2022.

Grasses, weed pollen and fungal spore counts were low in most cities, except for Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and likely Calvinia where weed counts were moderate.

In Bloemfontein, tree pollen counts were found to be very high due to very high levels of hackberry, as well as elevated counts of cypress, mulberry, poplar, oak and olive.

Lower counts of birch, bushwillow, beech, waxberry, gum, pine, plane, yellowwood and karee were also seen.

Weed levels were moderate and included mugwort, the daisy family, goosefoot, pigmyweeds and nettles.

Fungal spore counts were low.

In Kimberley, tree pollen counts were high, weeds were moderate and grasses were low.

The dominant tree pollen included birch, mulberry, plane and pine, with lower levels of Australian pine, hackberry, bushwillow, cypress, ash, gum, poplar and oak also seen.

The weeds detected were mugwort, daisies, goosefoot, erica, the carnation family, spurges, rushes, bulrush and fern spores.

Grass and mould counts were low.

Read more about the pollen counts for other cities, here.