Best Indoor Plants for Air Purification

Indoor plants have multiple roles to play. They purify the air, add color to a dull office, and get you in the mood for work. Back in the 1980s, decorating offices with houseplants became a trend across North America and Europe. Its goal? To improve the air quality in a room full of people with cost-saving benefits in mind.

Indoor plants are natural air purifiers that can help alleviate the symptoms of migraine, asthma, brain fog, and hay fever caused by an allergic reaction to certain pollutants. 

To help you get started, Wiki Lawn prepared some of the best indoor plants to help with air purification below:

Barberton Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii)

This species is known for its vivid colors of red, yellow, orange, and pink. 

The plant does a great job of purifying the air from common toxins such as formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene and others commonly used in various finishes, paints, and other synthetic materials. It needs abundant light and regular watering.

Broad Lady Palm (Rhapis Excelsa)

The species is known to absorb and purify ammonia. Ammonia is a chemical with wide use in domestic products, especially cleaning detergents. Buying it off the shelf might cost you a bit, so it’s best to grow it yourself. The plant loves moisture, making it perfect for your bathroom or WC.

Red-edged Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)

Besides the vivid red edge of leaves and slow growth, this species is known to cleanse the air from air pollutants such as trichloroethylene and xylene. Even though it takes a while, the plant can reach up to 8 ft, so you better have high rooms or terrace. 

English Ivy (Hedera Helix)

Don’t let its invasiveness fool you, because when installing indoors, English Ivy plants can actually remove traces of formaldehyde and fecal vapor in the air, making it the perfect addition to your toilet. It requires little maintenance and it grows fast vertically, which makes it a good ornament to spacious offices. However, it’s a part-shade and part-sun plant so make sure to this English Ivy still gets a bit of sun exposure. 

Photos / Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum Aureum)

The Golden Photos is extremely simple to grow and can absorb a wide range of air pollutants and toxins. It’s not only a beautiful sight but resistant to poor ownership.

Snake Plant / Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Known as a plant good for sleep, the succulent with yellow releases pure oxygen when the Sun goes down. The species can take toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene. Just be careful not to drown its roots can easily rot.

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium)

This gorgeous flower is the perfect addition to your living room or kitchen. The species is known to take care of some of the common household toxins such as ammonia and benzene. The plant adores the Sun, so make sure you give it enough of it.

Aloe Vera (A. Barbadensis)

Know for its wide use in medication and healing, this species can absorb and rid air at home from a wide range of harmful substances such as formaldehyde and benzene to name a few. 

Ficus/Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)

A plant known to the modern world for centuries can purify formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and more. Make sure you give it much sunlight and little change. 

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

This species originates from the tropical forests and has a fast metabolism, making it one of the top performers for purifying the air at home. The plant favors low light and high moisture, making it another great addition for your bathroom or WC. 

Jade Plant

The best indoor plant for your office desk, Jade plant has amazing longevity that may as well surpass you in this lifetime. It is a flowering plant with symbolic meanings such as friendship, money, long-life, and good luck, based on feng-shui principles. What’s more, Jade plants can thrive under medium-light conditions and they need not be watered constantly.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Another flowering plant is distinctly known for its seashell-like spathes. It is a low-light plant that can remove benzene, formaldehyde, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may originally come from cleaning products. However, do note that its poisonous leaves can harm your kids and your pets. It is advisable to place it only in an area that is off-limits to these potential victims.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis)

Popular among household owners, Boston fern has been proven effective in eliminating xylene, formaldehyde, and benzene pollutants circulating indoors. However, growing this type of plant species requires a bit of work like feeding them monthly during the rainy season and weekly during the dry season. Nevertheless, when done correctly, Boston ferns could help you purify the air you breathe significantly.

Final words

Being a natural air purifier, potted plants are definitely cheaper than air-conditioning units with air cleaning capability. And this is not a new concept in this day and age. Many people have just not given much attention to it until NASA and some scientific studies confirmed recently that plants can indeed filter out some toxins and pollutants in the air. If the power of nature is not enough, consider adding a top-rated ozone generator to your home interior.