Get aeroallergen readings for Chestnut and Oak.

Important genera:

Beech (Fagus), Chestnut (Castanea), and Oak (Quercus)

Tree pollen is dominant in the spring.
Beech pollen season extends from April to May.
Chestnut pollen season extends from May to July.
Oak pollen season extends from March to May.

Beech, Chestnut, and Oak trees in Missouri:

• American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
• American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)
• White Oak (Quercus alba)
• Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
• Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)
• Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
• Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)
• Swamp Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
• Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
• Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
• Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
• Post Oak (Quercus stellata)
• Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Facts about Beech, Chestnut, and Oak

• Beech trees are wind-pollinated.
• Beech pollen closely resembles oak pollen in morphology.
• Chestnut trees are insect-pollinated.
• Oaks are wind-pollinated. The pollen is very light and abundantly produced by all species.
• Oaks outrank any other group of trees in Missouri forests in number of species. There are about 60 species native to the United States.

Beech, Chestnut, and Oak Allergenicity

• Beech pollen plays only an insignificant role in causing hay fever.
• More cases of hay fever are attributed to oaks than to any other tree.