After antigen encounter by CD4+ T cells, polarizing cytokines induce the expression of master regulators that control differentiation. Inactivation of the histone methyltransferase Ezh2 was found to specifically enhance T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cell differentiation and plasticity. Ezh2 directly bound and facilitated correct expression of Tbx21 and Gata3 in differentiating Th1 and Th2 cells, accompanied by substantial trimethylation at lysine 27 of histone 3 (H3K27me3). In addition, Ezh2 deficiency resulted in spontaneous generation of discrete IFN-γ and Th2 cytokine-producing populations in nonpolarizing cultures, and under these conditions IFN-γ expression was largely dependent on enhanced expression of the transcription factor Eomesodermin. In vivo, loss of Ezh2 caused increased pathology in a model of allergic asthma and resulted in progressive accumulation of memory phenotype Th2 cells. This study establishes a functional link between Ezh2 and transcriptional regulation of lineage-specifying genes in terminally differentiated CD4+ T cells. •Ezh2 specifically constrains differentiation and plasticity of Th1 and Th2 cells•Ezh2 controls correct expression of Tbx21 and Gata3 in developing Th1 and Th2 cells•Ezh2 inhibits spontaneous generation of IFN-γ-producing cells via repression of Eomes•Ezh2 constrains asthma pathology and memory phenotype Th2 cell accumulation in vivo