Did you know that there is a classification that includes the best air purifying plants? Have you ever thought about it? If we have aroused your curiosity, read on to see if you are encouraged and end up including these good friends of the air in your list of favorite plants.
In 1989, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in collaboration with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), conducted a Clean Air Study and published the results that provide a definitive list of the best indoor air purification plants.
The study, led by Dr. BC Wolverton, found that these plants are effective in filtering benzene, ammonia, formaldehyde and other air pollutants and replacing them with breathable oxygen, which helps neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome.
They further found that certain tropical plants, which are commonly used as houseplants, are actually the most efficient in this process. In fact, the report suggests having at least one of these best air-purifying plants for every one hundred square feet in the home or office space.
Learn about the main pollutants present in the air
Because we know you want to know a little more about the air we breathe, here is a list of the most common indoor pollutants:
- Trichloroethylene: found in printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes, adhesives and paint removers.
- Formaldehyde: found in paper bags, waxed papers, facial tissues, paper towels, plywood panels and synthetic fabrics.
- Benzene: used to manufacture plastics, resins, lubricants, detergents and medicines and is found in tobacco smoke, glue and furniture wax.
- Xylene: found in rubber, leather, tobacco smoke and vehicle exhaust.
- Ammonia: found in window cleaners, floor waxes, smelling salts and fertilizers.
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): this noxious gas is formed by vehicle and factory emissions during fuel combustion. It has a high concentration in regions congested with vehicles and traffic.
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2): a highly reactive gas that has a pungent and irritating odor. Sulfur dioxide is formed when fuels are burned in industries and factories.
To be honest, it’s a bit worrying to know that we don’t exactly breathe very clean air. Fortunately, we can all improve the situation in our home or office if we take into account this list of the 29 best air purifying plants:
- Peace lily
Peace lily is one of the most popular houseplants popular houseplants classified in the classified in the family of Araceae plants.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 16 to 32 degrees Celsius
Common names – Spath, closet plants
Botanical name – Spathiphyllum - Chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum is one of the most popular flowering plants classified in the genus chrysanthemum of the family asteraceae.
Location – Outdoors
Light – Full sun
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 5 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Daisy, mums, chrysanths, guldawdi, shevanti
Botanical name – Chrysanthemum indicum English or common ivy
English ivy is one of the most popular vine plants in Europe, it is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae, native to most of Europe and western Asia.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 5 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Common ivy, English ivy, European ivy, ivy
Botanical name – Hedera helix- Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue
Sansevieria is one of the most hardy and perfect houseplants that does not require bright light or sunlight, as well as frequent watering.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 5 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plant
Botanical name – Sansevieria laurentii - Red-edged dracaena or dracaena marginata
Red-bordered Dracaena is a species of the genus dracaena, native to South Asia, included in the Asparagaceae plant family, is a popular easy-care houseplant that performs well in a variety of climatic conditions.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 5 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names –
Drago Botanical name – Dracaena marginata - Bamboo palm
Bamboo palm is one of the 107 species of the genus chamaedorea categorized in the plant family arecaceae, the plant likes to grow under shady and humid conditions under trees in tropical forests.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Frequent
Temperature – 10 to 35 degrees Celsius
Common names – Bamboo palm
Botanical name – Chamaedorea seifrizii - Money plant
The money plant is one of the houseplants, it is a species of the Araceae plant family, native to French Polynesia. It is a species of the Araceae plant family, native to French Polynesia. The money plant is one of the hardiest plants that does well in most indoor environmental conditions.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Golden pothos, hunter’s robe, ivy ring, money plant, silver vine, island ivy, devil’s ivy
Botanical name – Epipremnum aureum - Flamingo lily
Anthurium is a popular gift plant, it is a species of the araceae plant family, native to Colombia and Ecuador. Anthuriums have bright green heart-shaped leaves and beautiful flowers that last for several months after flowering.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 12 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Flamingo Lily
Botanical name – Anthurium andraeanum - Janet Craig or Brazil log
Dracaena deremensis is one of the popular houseplants, it is a species of the genus dracaena which is included in the Asparagaceae plant family. Janet craig is resistant to adverse weather conditions and is suitable for growing indoors.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 5 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Janet Craig
Botanical name – Dracaena deremensis “Janet Craig”, Dracaena fragrans - Warneckii
Warneckei is another one of the best popular indoor air purifying plants, it is a species of the genus dracaena which is included in the Asparagaceae plant family. The plant is resistant to adverse weather conditions and is suitable for growing indoors.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 5 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Warneckei
Botanical name – Dracaena deremensis “Warneckei” - Cornstalk Dracaena or Palo de Agua
Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ is another popular and common houseplant, it is a species of the genus dracaena which is included in the Asparagaceae plant family. The plant is resistant to adverse weather conditions and is suitable for growing indoors.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequently
Temperature – 5 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Dracaena mahatma
Botanical name – Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ - Barberton Daisy or Gerbera
Gerbera is one of the most popular flowering plants with bright flowers of various colors. It is a genus of plants of the flowering plant family asteraceae (daisy family). The plant is resistant to adverse weather conditions and is adapted to grow in bright light.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, bright light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 25 degrees Celsius
Common names – Gerbera, gerbera daisy, transvaal daisy, barbertonse madeliefie
Botanical name – Gerbera jamesonii - Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a species of succulent plant of the genus aloe categorized in the plant family asphodelaceae, it is one of the most amazing plants that is beneficial for a multitude of problems, it has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. It is resistant to adverse climatic conditions and is adapted to grow in bright light and deserts. It is effective in scavenging benzene and formaldehyde. Below are its growing habits and a general description as a houseplant:
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, bright light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Aloe, aloe vera, ghritkumari
Botanical name – Aloe barbadensis mill - Dwarf Date Palm
Phoenix roebelenii is a species of date palm classified in the arecaceae plant family, native to Southeast Asia.
Location – Outdoors
Light – Sun, bright light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 10 to 45 degrees Celsius
Common names – Dwarf date palm, Pygmy date palm
Botanical name – Phoenix roebelenii - Areca or yellow palm
The areca palm is a species of flowering plant of the arecaceae family, native to Madagascar. It is one of the most popular foliage houseplants.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, bright light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 35 degrees Celsius
Common names – Golden cane palm, areca palm, yellow palm, butterfly palm
Botanical name – Dypsis lutescens - Boston fern
The Boston fern is a species of the genus nephrolepis of the family nephrolepidaceae, native to humid forests and swamps.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Frequent
Temperature – 15 to 35 degrees Celsius
Common names – Boston swordfern, wild Boston fern, tuber ladder hele, fishbone fern
Botanical name – Nephrolepis exaltata - Kimberly Queen Fern
Kimberly Queen Fern is a species of the genus nephrolepis in the family nephrolepidaceae, native to wet woodlands and swamps. It is one of the hardiest houseplants that is identical to the Boston fern, except that it has an upright growth habit.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering –
Frequent temperature – 15 to 35 degrees Celsius
Common names – Queen of Kimberley
Botanical name – Nephrolepis exaltata - Love Bow or Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum belongs to the Asparagaceae plant family, native to southern Africa. It is an easy-care, elegant and fast-growing houseplant.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent, water well when it dries to top one inch
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Spider plant
Botanical name – Chlorophytum comosum - Evergreen or Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema is a popular houseplant that comes from the Araceae family of hoop plants, which is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South Asia. It has more than 100 popular varieties that are attractive and easy to care for.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent, water well when it dries to top one inch
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names
– Chinese evergreen tree Botanical name – Aglaonema Modestum - Weeping Fig or Ficus Benjamín
The weeping fig tree native to Asia is one of the most common multipurpose landscape plants. It can grow up to 30 feet tall when grown in natural outdoor conditions, its hardiness and adaptability make it one of the popular shade plants in containers.
Location: outdoors
Light: full sun, bright light
Watering: less frequent.Temperature: 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names: Ficus, weeping fig, weeping fig, benjamin fig, ficus tree
Botanical name: Ficus benjamina - Heartleaf Philodendron or Heart Leaf
Heartleaf Philodendron is a species of the genus philodendron categorized in the plant family araceae, famous for listing low light houseplants.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Philodendron heart leaf, Oxycardium, Sweetheart plant
Botanical name – Philodendron cordatum - Selloum Philodendron or Cut Leaf Philodendron
Selloum Philodendron is a species of the genus philodendron categorized in the plant family Araceae, famous for listing low-light houseplants.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Philodendron selloum, lace tree philodendron, selloum
Botanical name – Philodendron bipinnatifidum - Elephant Ear Philodendron
Elephant ear philodendron is a species of the genus philodendron categorized in the plant family araceae, famous for listing low-light houseplants.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Sword-leaved philodendron, burgundy philodendron
Botanical name – Philodendron domesticum - Rubber Plant
The rubber plant is a species of the genus ficus categorized in the plant family moraceae, native to South Asia.
Location – Indoor
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Rubber plant, ficus elastica
Botanical name – Ficus elastica - Dendrobium orchids
Orchids are ever-popular indoor potted plants and adapt to many different types of environments, which is one of the reasons they are popular and so easy to maintain. With the exception of areas with extremely hot or cold climates, orchids grow practically everywhere, orchids grow virtually everywhere in the world.. Although there are hundreds of varieties of orchids, the vast majority are one of two varieties, phalaenops or dendrobium.
Dendrobium, also called reed orchids, have smaller, typically white or purple flowers that grow in rows on stems arising from thick canes. Dendrobium leaves are narrow and emerge from the sides of the cane. Orchids have been found to be effective in cleaning xylene and toluene from the air.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Orchid
Botanical name – Dendrobium spp. - Muda Cane
Dieffenbachia is a genus of tropical flowering plants belonging to the Araceae family, native to Mexico.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Dieffenbachia, dunb cane
Botanical name – Dieffenbachia spp. - King of Hearts
King of Hearts is a flowering plant with fern-like leaves and a drooping inflorescence of pink, purple, yellow or cream flowers. It is a species of the genus Dicentra categorized in the plant family Papaveraceae, native to North America.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent, water well when it dries out one inch higher
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – King of hearts
Botanical name – Homalomena wallisii - Moth Orchids
Orchids are ever-popular indoor potted plants and adapt to many different types of environments, which is one of the reasons they are popular and so easy to maintain. With the exception of areas with extremely hot or cold climates, orchids grow virtually everywhere in the world. Although there are hundreds of varieties of orchids, the vast majority are one of two varieties, phalaenops or dendrobium.
Phalaenops is also known as moth orchids, these orchid plants have rounded flowers usually white, purple or pink, or some combination with a pronounced lip growing on a single tall stem arising from a whorl of fleshy, oval leaves.
Location – Indoors
Light – Shade, artificial light
Watering – Less frequent
Temperature – 15 to 30 degrees Celsius
Common names – Orchid
Botanical name – Phalaenopsis spp. - Banana
Plantain is a large flowering herbaceous plant of the genus Musa, native to tropical India and Australia. It is found to be effective in cleaning formaldehyde from the air.
Location – Outdoors
Light – Full sun
Watering – Less frequent.Temperature – 15 to 40 degrees Celsius
Common Names – Banana
Botanical Name -Musa Oriana
A local garden center such as ROOTS is invaluable to give you advice and help you make the right decisions to keep your green spaces beautiful and healthy. If among the best air purifying plants you have seen in this list, there is one of your preference, contact us to get it to you and give you all the recommendations for its care, maintenance and better enjoyment.
Want more tips for designing a small garden at home? Visit us at ROOTS and we will advise you about the best plants and elements to design that garden you want to have.
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