The Texas year in pollen
Tree pollen in Texas runs December to May, grass follows March to October, and ragweed starts in early August and holds on until the first frost — typically around November 29.
When does ragweed season end in Texas?
Ragweed season in Texas typically ends with the first frost, around November 29. The coldest corners of the state see frost by late October; the mildest hold out until early 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 Texas
Tree pollen in Texas starts in early December, and mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) is usually first out. Mild springs pull the start earlier.
| Tree | Typical season | Heaviest weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) | December to February | early January to late January |
| Oak (live oak) | March to May | mid-March to mid-April |
| Elm | February to April | — |
| Cedar elm (fall) | August to October | — |
| Pecan | April to May | — |
| Cottonwood | March to April | — |
Mountain cedar is the outlier on that table — a full-blown winter pollen season with its own name. Cedar fever, explained.
Grass season
Grass pollen in Texas 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 Texas over several weeks, and ragweed season ends with it. Based on 30 years of NOAA frost records (1991–2020).
| City | Typical first frost |
|---|---|
| Amarillo | October 27 |
| Austin | December 3 |
| Brownsville | January 2 |
| Corpus Christi | December 21 |
| Dallas | November 29 |
| El Paso | November 20 |
| Fort Worth | November 24 |
| Houston | December 28 |
| Lubbock | November 2 |
| McAllen | January 3 |
| Midland | November 14 |
| San Antonio | December 3 |
| Waco | November 15 |
Common questions
When does ragweed season end in Texas?
Ragweed season in Texas typically ends with the first frost, around November 29. The coldest corners of the state see frost by late October; the mildest hold out until early January.
When does allergy season end in Texas?
The last big wave of the Texas pollen year is ragweed, so the season ends with the first frost, around November 29. Tree pollen is done by May, grass mostly by October.
When does tree pollen start in Texas?
Tree pollen in Texas starts in early December, and mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) is usually first out. Mild springs pull the start earlier.
Sources: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020 frost records) · Texas A&M Forest Service — Cedar fever season · Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America — Ragweed Pollen. Season windows reviewed August 2026.