Cyclamen is a type of houseplant that is popular across the United States due to its indoor growth capabilities and beautiful flowers. However, it is suited for the outdoor environment only in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10, which includes parts of Southern California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. In these areas, cyclamen can grow outdoors most of the year without protection. Additionally, cyclamen can grow indoors in households across the country, provided they receive adequate care and suitable conditions. However, their pollen can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Note on Seasonality

• Indoor Growth: Cyclamen, when grown indoors, can produce pollen at any time of the year depending on their growing conditions and care.
• Outdoor Growth: For cyclamen grown outdoors in suitable climates and hardiness zones, they typically flower and produce pollen during the cooler months of the year.

Cross-reactivity between certain foods and pollen can cause symptoms of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) in individuals who are allergic to Cyclamen pollen. This is due to some proteins in these foods being similar to the proteins in the offending pollen, thus triggering an immune response. These foods include:

Foods to avoid:

• Raw fruits and vegetables: Many fruits and vegetables have similar proteins to pollen which can make allergies worse. This often includes apples, cherries, peaches, pears, celery, carrots, and peas.
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds can potentially worsen cyclamen allergy symptoms.
• Spices: Certain spices such as caraway, coriander, fennel, parsley, and anise may trigger symptoms.

It’s important to note that individuals react differently and not everyone with a Cyclamen pollen allergy will have an adverse reaction to these foods.