Indoor plants are beautiful to look at and they can have a significant, positive impact on our health. Houseplants improve indoor air quality by adding oxygen and humidity to the air in our homes and offices. NASA scientists have found that many also remove harmful gases such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from indoor air.
But which ones do it best?
NASA came up with a list of indoor plants that cleaned the air most efficiently. Here are the 18 standouts (in no particular order):
English ivy (Hedera helix)
aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
golden pothos (Epipiremnum aureum)
peace lily (Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa')
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
bamboo or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)
heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens `oxycardium')
lacy tree philodendron (Philodendron selloum)
elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
corn plant (Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana')
Janet Craig & Warneckii dracaena (Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig' & `Warneckii')
weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
pot mum (Crysanthemum morifolium)
So, what are you waiting for?
For more information, read about the NASA study.
Learn more about the 7 Health Benefits of Houseplants and take care of your plants by reading The Proper Care and Feeding of Indoor Plants.