10 Houseplants For Making Indoor Air Very Clean and Healthy

Homeowners concerned about indoor air quality have been turning to nature’s air purifiers, houseplants, for many years. Highly respected tests from NASA and other agencies have proven that they remove a wide variety of pollutants from the air including those commonly found in household furnishings and products, such as formaldehyde and benzene. These plants deliver the additional benefits of enriching your home’s oxygen supply and beautifying your surroundings. Experts suggest about 1 house plant per 100 square feet of living space, with a variety producing better results than choosing all the same plant.

Here are ten houseplants that will make your indoor air very clean and healthy. They are readily available wherever houseplants are sold, and most also grow well in low-light conditions and are easy to maintain.

1. English Ivy (Hedera helix): This evergreen climbing plant grows very well either on an indoor trellis where it may climb, or as a hanging plant with drooping runners. English Ivy produces fragrant greenish yellow flowers and small berries that vary in color.

2. Cornstalk Dracaena (Dracaena fragans ‘Massangeana’): Rosettes of silky green leaves with a distinctive yellow stripe make this an attractive and popular houseplant. Leaves reach about 3 feet when grown in pots, and the plant yields white flowers that are richly fragrant.

3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): The plant features long narrow leaves sporting one or two lighter bands down the center and delicate white flowers. Easy to maintain in a variety of conditions, it is a good choice for beginners, and is easily propagated by dividing the central rosette.

4. Elephant Ear Philodendron (Philodendron domesticum): Most Philodendrons are outstanding pollution reducers, and the Elephant Ear is among the very best. Broad, fleshy leaves and gorgeous flowers highlight the attractive appeal of this hardy houseplant.

5. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum): This foliage plant is native to tropical swamps where efficient gas processing characteristics are essential in low-light conditions, making it a fantastic pollution fighter. The Chinese Evergreen features small bunches of attractive leaves, small greenish-white flowers, and red berries. This ornamental is easy to grow and maintain indoors.

6. Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii): This ornamental plant is part of the sunflower family, and boasts brightly colored flowers with stunning beauty. Various species are cultivated for indoor use, so homeowners will have a variety of floral colors from which to choose, including white, pink, red, yellow and orange.

7. Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aures): This popular indoor evergreen grows to 8 feet with proper support. Bright green heart-shaped leaves feature white or yellow variegation that varies from plant to plant. The Pothos is very hardy and needs little maintenance .

8. Bamboo Palm or Reed Palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii): Native to low-light rainforest floors, these palms developed the ability to efficiently process gases required for photosynthesis, leading to their fine ability to remove pollutants from the air. Cane-like stems support narrow, verdant leaves, clusters of flowers, and red-orange fruit.

9. Warneck Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’): This houseplant grows on a thick stalk and produces dense rosettes of green or whitish green leaves. Usually won’t flower indoors, but a dynamic anti-pollution plant.

10. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’): Peace lilies have long been popular for their dramatically beautiful flower featuring a broad, upright petal of pure white. That it grows in low-light indoor conditions and reduces common household pollutants in the air only adds to its appeal.

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3. How To Choose an Indoor Plant
4. 10 Indoor Flowers
5. How to maintain indoor plants