Air Purifying Plants
A breath of fresh air.
Air purifying houseplants are always a good idea. As well as adding natural beauty to our homes, they can also boost our health and wellbeing! Research shows that certain plants help to purify the air by removing harmful toxins and lowering levels of carbon dioxide. They can also reduce stress, increase productivity and help us sleep better. We have a special display in our Houseplant Department dedicated to these natural wonders. Here are some of our favourites!
To help you get growing, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite air purifying houseplants.
Boston Fern
This extremely popular indoor plant is renowned for its air-purifying properties. With lush green foliage and tropical good looks, it not only helps to rid the home of harmful toxins, it can also improve humidity by helping to restore moisture to the air naturally. Non-toxic to pets, Boston ferns create a calming environment in the home and have been much-loved houseplants since the Victorian era.
Chlorophytum Comosum
If you’re looking for a pet-safe and air-purifying plant, why not opt for a Chlorophytum? Commonly known as spider plants, these spiky specimens are renowned for removing toxins including carbon monoxide and xylene. One of the other wonderful things about these plants is that they produce offsets which can be rooted in water, then potted up and placed in other rooms (or given away to friends and family!).
Dracena
Plants that belong to the Dracaena family are known to be great air purifiers. Lean and tall with beautiful big green leaves, these plants do wonders in removing toxins like xylene and formaldehyde, which are found in everyday items like hairspray and furniture varnish. This robust indoor plant is native to the rainforest and makes a healthy addition to any home or office.
Ficus elastica
The rubber plant has thick broad leaves with a large surface area which makes it ideal for purifying the air. It’s thought to soak up the carbon dioxide that we exhale and convert it into oxygen. It may also help with removing mould spores and bacteria from the air. The rubber plant is a very adaptable and forgiving plant, so even if it’s placed in a shady spot it will still be okay.
Spathiphyllum
Known for their glossy leaves and calming white flowers, peace lilies are a popular choice for new plant owners. Easy to grow and undemanding, they can improve indoor air quality by removing toxins such as formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene. Peace lilies also pump out oxygen during the night so if you keep one by your bedside, you may wake up feeling more refreshed than usual!
