Flowers for people with allergies. Alternative Gifts Ideas

Flowers are a wonderful gift or decorative purchase for the house or office. However, for many people, making the incorrect choice can lead to an allergic reaction which is severe enough to deter setting foot in a florist anytime in the foreseeable future.
A flower allergy can be a result of any single or a combination of factors; the seeds, the scent, the stem, or the pollen. Reactions include mild hayfever, swellings and rashes, or an outbreak of dermatitis upon contacts with some part of the flower. Asthma is often a more severe reaction to the pollen of a flower, so it is best to learn how to avoid potential for such reactions by identifying the causes and risk factors.

Wind born pollinated flowers, plants, and grasses that have travelled a great distance are in fact more likely to produce an allergic reaction than flowers pollinated by insects, which carry a smaller amount of pollen direct from flower to flower.

If you are unsure of what is likely to trigger yourself or someone else sneezing and itching, consider the larger flowering plants. Some categories of flower which are less reactive than others:
• Tropical Varieties: these include birds of paradise, which are also a beautiful and decorative flower. They can stand alone or be a part of an arrangement. Birds of Paradise can be large enough to make a statement in a room. Frangipanis and hibiscus are also stunning plants which are suitable.

• Roses are always an attractive addition to any house, indoors in a vase, or outside in the garden, just exercise caution with handling of the stem
• Camellias and begonias
• Pansies and petunias
• Daffodils and other bulbous plants
• Sunflowers

Plants which produce a large amount of pollen, and are inclined to produce a reaction, include:
• Jasmine
• Wattles
• Boronia
• Freesia

If you are creating your own ‘allergy-free' garden, follow some general guidelines to prevent constant or seasonal reactions.

• Plant native plants rather than plants which originate in the northern hemisphere
• Choose a low pollen grass if you are going to keep a lawn, and when mowing keep the windows closed to reduce spreading pollen into the house
• Weed the garden when required to prevent flowers growing which are likely to cause a reaction
• Seek lightly scented plants if this is going to reduce hayfever symptoms
• Avoid plants such as polyanthus, ivy, and trees such as maple, blossom, willow, elm, and oak, which all contain a high amount of pollen
• Many herbs are a good alternative to flowers, and are less reactive. Herbs on the safe list include rosemary, oregano, parsley, chives, and dill.

The other option, if using flowers for decorative or gift giving purposes, is to hunt down a convincing looking fake variety.

Many florists, nurseries, and garden supply shops now stock a huge range of imitation flowers, trees, branches, and leaves. They are ideal for a permanent arrangement when you are time limited or allergic to many other plants, and they can be changed and rearranged on a regular basis. Sometimes fake flowers are less expensive than the real thing, and it can be difficult to even differentiate between the two, which make them great gifts.

Risking an allergic reaction to a plant or a flower is usually not worth the hassle, so consider your options before you wind up having to visit your pharmacist in a state of discomfort.

At Edible Blooms we specialize in edible gifts. We offer a fresh alternative to a funch of flowers and a box of chocalates. We deliver edible arrangement of fruit, buscuits and flowers. Our gifts and gift ideas certainly achieve a "wow" factor. Article written & distributed by Shout search engine optimisation.