Houseplants that Clean the Air

Indoor plants are beautiful to look at and they can have a significant, positive impact on our health. Houseplants plants improve indoor air quality through 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):

  • Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

  • Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

  • Pothos (Epipiremnum - all varieties)

  • Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa')

  • Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

  • Bamboo or Reed Palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)

  • Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

  • Philodendron (Philodendron - all varieties)

  • Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)

  • Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana')

  • Janet Craig & Warneckii dracaena (Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig' & `Warneckii')

  • Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)

  • Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

So, what are you waiting for? 

For more information, read the NASA study or this article from the University of Florida.