The Florida year in pollen
Tree pollen in Florida runs December to April, grass follows March to October, and ragweed starts in mid-July and holds on until the first frost — typically around January 10.
When does ragweed season end in Florida?
Ragweed season in Florida typically ends with the first frost, around January 10. The coldest corners of the state see frost by late November; the mildest hold out until mid-January.
Ragweed keeps releasing pollen until a freeze kills the plants, which is why the season has no fixed end date — it ends when the cold arrives. More on how frost ends ragweed season.
Tree pollen in Florida
Tree pollen in Florida starts in mid-December, and cypress and red cedar is usually first out. Oak (live oak) — the bigger problem for most people — follows January to April. Mild springs pull the start earlier.
| Tree | Typical season | Heaviest weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Oak (live oak) | January to April | early February to late March |
| Pine | January to April | — |
| Cypress and red cedar | December to February | early January to early February |
Grass season
Grass pollen in Florida runs March to October, heaviest early May to mid-September. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda do the damage here, and they keep flowering through the heat, which is why the season runs so long. More on grass seasons.
First frost — and ragweed's end — city by city
The first frost sweeps across Florida over several weeks, and ragweed season ends with it. Based on 30 years of NOAA frost records (1991–2020).
| City | Typical first frost |
|---|---|
| Cape Coral | January 13 |
| Jacksonville | January 5 |
| Key West | rarely freezes |
| Melbourne | January 12 |
| Miami | rarely freezes |
| Orlando | January 13 |
| Pensacola | December 9 |
| Sarasota | January 10 |
| Tallahassee | November 21 |
| Tampa | January 12 |
Common questions
When does ragweed season end in Florida?
Ragweed season in Florida typically ends with the first frost, around January 10. The coldest corners of the state see frost by late November; the mildest hold out until mid-January.
When does allergy season end in Florida?
The last big wave of the Florida pollen year is ragweed, so the season ends with the first frost, around January 10. Tree pollen is done by April, grass mostly by October.
When does tree pollen start in Florida?
Tree pollen in Florida starts in mid-December, and cypress and red cedar is usually first out. Oak (live oak) — the bigger problem for most people — follows January to April. Mild springs pull the start earlier.
Sources: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020 frost records) · Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America — Ragweed Pollen. Season windows reviewed August 2026.