Add an Air Purifying Plant to Your Home – 15 Top Varieties

Air Purifying Plant

NASA undertook a study to identify the plants which provide the best air purification benefit. Each air purifying plant on our list grows wonderfully indoors while leaving your home or office healthier. The addition of an air purifying plant to your home not only improves the aesthetics but also filters out many harmful chemicals. Here are the fifteen best plants to filter and clean the air in your home.

1. English Ivy – The Best Air Purifying Plant

Air Purifying Plant
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English Ivy is an invasive outdoor plant which is better suited to indoor growing. It survives great when grown inside due to its partiality for sun and shade. NASA has rated this plant as one of the world’s most effective air purifying plants. It removes a wide range of toxic chemicals from the air and is easy to grow. It is a fantastic topiary plant due to it’s ability to climb.

2. Peace Lily

Air Purifying Plant
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The beautiful seashell shaped Peace Lily is an air purifying plant which will flower indoors. This is due to the Peace Lily preferring low light conditions thus making it great for the home and office. This plant removes formaldehyde and a range of other pollutants. When growing Peace Lily’s indoors your air gets humidified. This is due to the high transpiration rate of the Peace Lily.

3. Red-Edged Marginata

Air Purifying Plant
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The Red-Edged Marginata is also known as the dragon tree due to its long stems and spiky foliage.  It likes dry soil and bright light. It is thus best to position it near a window that gets full sun. This great plant removes many toxins from the air. Toxins including those found in oils, glues, paints and plastics.

4. Snake Plant

Air Purifying Plant
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The Snake Plant is a succulent which has tall, pointy leaves thus giving it a great appearance. It is drought tolerant and is thus a great indoor plant. It will flourish with minimal attention and watering. NASA has listed the Snake Plant as one of the most effective air purifying plants around. It is also termed ‘Mother in Law’s Tongue’ and is at times included in spicy cuisine as part of spice blends.

5. Golden Pothos

Air Purifying Plant
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The Golden Pothos does not have the best rate of purification yet it is one of the hardiest plants around. It will survive the worst neglect due to requiring little watering and attention. It needs low light conditions to thrive thus making it perfect for indoor use. A few placed around the house will beautify your space while cleaning your air. Golden Pothos is a great air purifying plant choice for beginner gardeners due to it’s great survival ability.

6. Aloe Vera – More than Just an Air Purifying Plant

Air Purifying Plant
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Aloe Vera is easy to grow and loves son. It helps clear the air due to removing harmful chemicals. Formaldehyde and benzene are common in household cleaners and get filtered by an Aloe. It is a great plant to place near a kitchen window. The gel inside the leaves of this plant is effective in healing cuts and burns.

7. Gerbera Daisy

Air Purifying Plant
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The Gerbera Daisy is also known as the Transvaal Daisy. It is a plant that needs full sun so therefore take care when placing it in your home. As an air purifying plant is removes trichloroethylene and benzene from the air. Trichloroethylene forms in the dry cleaning process, thus making it great for the laundry. Make sure of good drainage due to Gerberas needing well-drained soil. Due to the desperate need for light ensure that your daisy’s receive at least six hours of sun.

8. Chrysanthemum

Air Purifying Plant
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Chrysanthemums warm a home through their beautiful colors. They also work great as air purifying plants. Chrysanthemums remove benzene from the air thus filtering out the toxins from detergents. Benzene is also present is many other substances such as glue, paint and plastics. Chrysanthemums love sunlight and therefore placement by an open window is best. There are many varieties of this plant available. Always opt for a floral Chrysanthemum due to other varieties struggling to grow inside.

9. Azalea

Air Purifying Plant
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Azaleas are great indoor plants due to requiring a small amount of light. They do not need direct sunlight but may need misting depending on the humidity. They are fantastic at purifying all forms of toxins from the air. Azaleas are best suited to areas such as basements and cellars due to thriving in cool, dry areas.

10. Chinese Evergreen

Air Purifying Plant
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Chinese Evergreens have been popular ornamental plants in Asia for many years. Said to bring luck, the Chinese Evergreen is a great air purifying plant. It removes benzene and formaldehyde from your air. Due to thriving in low light conditions, the Chinese Evergreen makes for a great indoor plant. Despite needing little light, these plants cannot survive cold temperatures. It is thus best not to position them near open windows or in a cold room.

11. Bamboo Palm

Air Purifying Plant
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Bamboo Palm trees remove benzene, toluene and xylene from the air. They grow to a maximum of 6 meters tall over a long period of time. This thus makes perfect for indoor growing. The Bamboo Palm genus of plants encompasses many different palm trees. Each works great as an air purifying plant while also carrying a great look fitting of the modern home.

12. Heartleaf Philodendron

Air Purifying Plant
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The Heartleaf Philodendron is an evergreen climber which is an effective air purifying plant. It grows best indoors due to not surviving in cold temperatures. This plant won the  Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. This is due to its fantastic ability to thrive indoors in varying conditions. It’s heart shaped glossy leaf structure is an attractive addition to any home or office.

13. Boston Fern

Air Purifying Plant
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Boston Ferns are highly effective air purifying plants. This plant removes more formaldehyde from the air than any other. They also remove components of gasoline exhaust fumes that make their way indoors. The removal of benzene and xylene is essential to anyone owning an attached garage. Boston Ferns are often tricky to keep growing. They need frequent watering when kept indoors. Misting of the leaves is also sometimes needed, depending on the humidity.

14. Rubber Plant

Air Purifying Plant
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Rubber plants grow at a slow rate but need little attention. Therefore making them great indoor air purifying plants. This aesthetically pleasing plant will survive given a small amount of sun. They remove formaldehyde from the air. The presence of hardboard or particleboard implies the use of glue. The rubber plant is thus especially useful in areas where this type of processed wood is found. Areas such as offices are at times built using glue which contains formaldehyde. In such areas a rubber plant is invaluable.

15. Warneck Dracaena

Air Purifying Plant
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The Warneck Dracaena is an effective air purifying plant due to removing many pollutants. It is most effective at filtering the pollutants associated with oils and certain varnishes. it does not need direct sunlight and will thus thrive in almost any area of the home. If brown streaks appear you should switch to watering with filtered water. This is due to your tap water having a high fluoride count.