5. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
This is another striking houseplant that brings to the home a sense of tropical elegance. With its large, variegated leaves, it is a visual delight, but beyond its exotic beauty, it remains a powerful air purifier, effectively removing toxins and other contaminants from the indoor air. This makes it a valuable asset for improving indoor air quality, especially in homes where pollutants can accumulate.
A native of tropical America and the West Indies, this herbaceous plant of the arum family (Araceae) comes in numerous horticultural varieties, which are all loved for their attractive foliage and ability to tolerate low light intensities. Its cultivated varieties typically have large, simple leaves that are often variegated with other greens. Named after Johann Dieffenbach, a 19th-century German botanist, Dieffenbachia has earned the common name 'Dumb Cane' due to its toxic sap, which can cause temporary speechlessness if ingested, a reminder to handle this plant with care.
While the dumb cane is relatively low-maintenance, it's important to note that it could be toxic to pets and humans; therefore, keep it out of reach of children and animals, and handle it with gloves to avoid skin irritation. Despite this, however, its air-purifying benefits and stunning appearance make it a worthwhile addition to any home seeking a healthier and more beautiful environment. If orchids are the high-maintenance beauty queens of indoor gardening, dumb cane is the natural beauty standing in the wings, just out of the spotlight.
6. Money Tree (Pachira Aquatica)
Money tree is also called Pachira aquatica, but it is known by other common names, including water chestnut, Guiana chestnut, and Malabar chestnut. In addition, it is often commercially sold as a houseplant or bonsai under the name of money tree or money plant. Money trees typically have a distinctive, long, thin trunk that is made up of intertwined stems that are plaited together.
This 'plaiting' process is done when grown in a nursery, where the money tree's growers slowly braid the supple young, green trunks before they turn hard and woody while the plant still grows. Each branch sports five big, bright green leaves. Aside from that, however, the money plant has numerous other benefits, including its ability to purify indoor air. It is also one of the houseplants symbolically associated with financial success and good fortune, which makes it a popular houseplant to have in the home.
7. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea Seifrizii)
The Chamaedorea Seifrizii—Bamboo palm—is a member of the Arecaceae family hailing from forested regions of Central America, especially Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. The bamboo palm produces about ten or fifteen feathery, dark green fronds per cane. The stems are thick and covered with tan fiber that looks like bamboo. It does best in bright, indirect sunlight.
Keep in mind that this plant naturally grows as an understory plant in forests. It has a good shade tolerance and is happy with filtered light or dappled sunlight. And more than that, it can make indoor air quality clean and free from harmful contaminants.
8. Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)
Dracaena trifasciata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo. Also known as mother-in-law's tongue, this yellow-tipped succulent releases oxygen at night, helping you to breathe better while sleeping. It is one of the best plants for filtering the air of formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene, thus an ideal plant to invest in for your home.
9. Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)
These burgundy evergreen trees originated from India; they’re a very hardy plant that loves bright, filtered light and weekly watering in summer and fortnightly watering in winter. Rubber plants can grow in a small pot or be encouraged to grow into a large indoor tree in pots or straight in the ground. These plants can remove harmful components like xylene, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the indoor air.
10. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata)
Another great houseplant on the air-purifying plants list is the Boston fern. Scientifically called Nephrolepsis exaltata, the Boston fern is a graceful and lush houseplant that could also bring a touch of the outdoors indoors. Its delicate, feathery fronds usually create a sense of tranquility and add a touch of green in indoor spaces. This easy-to-grow plant is known for its sword-shaped fronds, which make it perfect for a hanging basket or pedestal. Beyond its beauty, this plant is a natural air purifier, effectively removing toxins like formaldehyde and xylene from the air. This makes it an excellent choice for improving indoor air quality, particularly in homes with high levels of pollutants.
The Boston fern also thrives in bright and indirect light, prefers humid environments, and requires consistent moisture. You can, therefore, keep it happy with regular misting, moist soil, and also positioning it in indirect sunlight near windows, balconies, and patios. This houseplant is relatively low-maintenance, making it a good choice for busy homeowners. However, it does require regular misting to maintain its humidity levels.
11. Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)
The fiddle-leaf fig, also known as the Ficus lyrata, not only graces the covers and photos of many design publications but also brings drama and height, and ties entire rooms together with its tall stature and enormous, elegant leaves when grown indoors as a houseplant. What some people don’t realize is that fiddle leaf figs need to be positioned directly in front of a window, despite where you’ve seen them placed in photos.
These houseplants can be a bit tricky to take care of while they still acclimate to your indoor space, until you learn their care regimen, especially their watering schedule. Even so, these houseplants are more than worth the work because they possess many benefits, including their air-purifying properties. You can always get this houseplant from Air So Pure.
12. Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)
The Dragon Blood Tree (Dracaena marginata) is a resilient houseplant that possesses a hint of the tropics, which it infuses into a home wherever it is grown. It has distinctive, spiky leaves with red margins, which bring a dramatic flair to the space. Even so, this beauty is a natural air purifier, effectively removing different toxins from the air. It is, therefore, a valuable asset for improving indoor air quality, especially in homes where these pollutants are common. Native to Madagascar, the eye-catching spiky tree is known as a great entry plant for household gardeners—it's easy to care for, drought-tolerant, and nearly indestructible.
The slow-growing plant can be planted year-round and boasts tiny white flowers in the spring (though it rarely flowers indoors). While this plant is relatively low-maintenance, tolerating a range of light conditions and requiring infrequent watering, it prefers well-draining soil and should be allowed to dry slightly between waterings. It is, however, a great addition to your collection of air-purifying plants.
13. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)
The beautiful parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans), also known as Bella palm or tabletop palm, has long, shiny green leaves. Parlor palms are known to remove harmful chemicals such as benzene and trichloroethylene from the air. The plants do best in bright, filtered light with little watering. It is, therefore, better to underwater your parlor palm than to overwater it. Expect to water them every 1-2 weeks. These plants are also pet-safe, so you can keep them without worrying about your pet’s health. They are a good addition to your indoor air-purifying plant collection.
14. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), also supplied by Air So Pure, is a stunning and effective air-purifying houseplant that also brings elegance and tranquility to the home. Its graceful, white spathes (modified leaves) surround the actual flowers, creating a beautiful contrast against the lush, dark green foliage. This houseplant is a natural air purifier, effectively removing toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from the air.
When growing them, note that peace lilies need bright, filtered light and prefer warmer, humid climates. Therefore, they need to be watered and misted frequently in the summer. You can get away with less watering in the winter, but be careful not to let the soil dry out.
15. Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepis Obliterata)
The Kimberly Queen Fern is a dense evergreen fern with a shapely form and gracefully arching fronds. Also known as the sword fern for its straight and narrow, upright leaves. It originated from Australia and is easy to grow indoors and out. This plant is highly effective at removing common indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. These chemicals can be released from various household products and furnishings, and exposure to them can cause health issues. The fern's leaves and roots can absorb these pollutants, purifying the air, helping improve overall indoor air quality. This can provide relief for those suffering from respiratory issues or allergies. The fern also releases oxygen through photosynthesis, further enhancing the air.
In addition to its air-purifying abilities, the Kimberly Queen Fern is an attractive, lush-looking plant that can enhance the decor of any indoor space. Its arching fronds and delicate foliage add a touch of greenery and natural beauty. Compared to many other houseplants, the Kimberly Queen Fern is relatively low-maintenance. It does not require frequent pruning or fertilization and can thrive in a variety of indoor conditions as long as it receives adequate moisture and indirect light. Essentially, it performs well in the sun and the shade. The plant is fast-growing, full, and beautiful, thrives in containers, and makes for an interesting hanging basket plant, thus an easy-to-care-for air purifier.
16. Monstera Deliciosa
The Monstera deliciosa, with its distinctive Swiss cheese-like leaves, is also one of the most effective air-purifying houseplants. This stunning tropical plant transforms the indoor environment by removing harmful toxins like formaldehyde and benzene while converting carbon dioxide into fresh oxygen. With its large, glossy, fenestrated leaves creating maximum surface area for air filtration, this Monstera serves as both a striking decorative statement and a powerful natural air cleaner.
This low-maintenance beauty thrives in bright, indirect light and requires minimal care, making it perfect for busy lifestyles while continuously working to enhance your home's air quality. Also supplied by Air So Pure, this scientifically proven air purifying plant also brings the rejuvenating essence of the tropics to the indoor space.
17. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)
Chlorophytum, commonly known as the spider plant, is a natural air purifier recognized for removing harmful pollutants like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor air. Also called Grass lily, because of its ribbon-shaped leaves and because long shoots with small white flowers form every year, studies have confirmed this plant's ability to improve air quality by absorbing toxins and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. It is easy to care for and safe for pets; thus, an excellent choice for a healthier indoor environment.
After flowering, small baby plants grow on the long offshoots, which makes the Chlorophytum a graceful hanging plant. Plus, the white leaf edges of the houseplant often become more intense in a light spot. Avoid direct sunlight, though, as the leaves may turn brown. The ideal temperature for its growth is between 18 and 25°C. This plant is also supplied by Air So Pure, a brand keen on providing high-quality air-purifying plants.
By all means, this list isn't complete, as there are numerous others, including varieties of other ferns, Dracaena, banana plants, and the bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), which can be found at Air So Pure. Try any one of them and experience the difference!
