7 Amazing Plants That Will Detox the Air in Your Home by Susan Sweeney

Practically anything made from synthetic materials or chemicals is a potential source of indoor air pollution. Carpets, upholstery, paint, varnish, cleaning products, electronic equipment and many ordinary household items release traces of toxins. If the air is not sufficiently filtered, these can build up to hazardous levels. Fortunately, a number of indoor plants have the natural ability to detoxify air in the home. The air-filtering plants described herein are listed in the NASA Clean Air Study, which investigated ways to purify air in space stations.

1. Peace Lily

The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is a tropical evergreen from Central America. It has large, glossy dark green leaves and produces white ‘spathe’ flowers with yellow centers. Different sized varieties are available from 12 inch tabletop plants to bushy 4 foot tall floor plants. This popular decorative species is a powerful room purifier. Peace Lily removes amonia, trichloroethylene, benzene, xylene, toluene and formaldehyde from indoor air. The plant can tolerate conditions of dark shade, so does not need to be placed directly in front of a window.

2. Areca Palm

The Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) is a flowering plant native to Madagascar. It is a large, bushy parlor palm with leaves that curve upwards on multiple stems. Those sold as houseplants are often 5-6 feet in height. Indoors, the Areca Palm acts as a natural humidifier, releasing about 1 liter of water into the surrounding area every 24 hours. The palm also filters the chemical toxins xylene and toluene from the air. The Areca grows best in a bright spot where it receives indirect light from a window. It needs to stay warm in winter, but should not be placed directly in front of a radiator.

3. Spider Plant

The Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a flowering herb native to southern Africa. The houseplant comes in green and variegated forms. It has tight clusters of long, thin arching leaves and develops a profusion of trailing plantlets on lengthy stems. It is ideally suited for indoor hanging baskets or tall plant stands, as the stems will hang down from a height. Spider plants are especially good at reducing formaldehyde in indoor air. They also remove xylene and toluene. In addition, they are among the easiest houseplants to care for and propagate. They will grow in conditions ranging from bright light to semi-shade and in temperatures as low as 50° F. When the plantlets develop roots they can be cut from the mother plant and potted.

4. Red Edged Dracaena

The Red Edged Dracaena (Dracaena marginata) is a tropical tree native to islands of the Indian Ocean. Its thin, stiff leaves are variegated in green, yellow and red. Those sold as houseplants range between 2 and 6 feet tall. Sometimes several stems are grouped or braided together in one pot. Dracaena is one of the best plants for ridding the air of trichloroethylene. It also removes benzene, xylene, toluene and formaldehyde. Position the tree where it can receive relatively bright light. The soil must be kept moist, but overwatering may result in root rot.

5. Boston Fern

The Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis) is a variation on the sword fern, native to tropical regions of the world. The houseplant features a dense mass of gracefully arching fronds bedecked with tiny green leaves. It is often as wide as it is tall. Boston ferns can lower levels of formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. They prefer prefer filtered, dappled light and require humidity to thrive. This makes them well suited for steamy bathrooms or kitchens. In other areas of the house, they may require regular misting.

6. Mother-in-law’s Tongue

Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) is an evergreen plant native to tropical West Africa. Its stiff, pointed upright leaves are mottled green with a yellow border. Houseplants can grow to around 3 feet tall. Mother-in-law’s tongue greatly improves air quality by removing nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene, xylene and toluene. It is a hardy plant which is easy to care for. It only needs watering when the soil is dry to the touch and doesn’t require humid conditions. Mother-in-law’s tongue can be positioned practically anywhere in the room from a sunny windowsill to a shadowy corner.

7. Florist’s Daisy

The Florist’s daisy (Chrysanthemum morifolium) is a variety of Chrysanthemum, a type of herbaceous flowering plant native to Asia and northeastern Europe. It produces a profusion of pompom-like blooms in shades of cream, yellow, orange or pink. The Florist’s daisy is one of the best houseplants for filtering pollutants from the air. It removes benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene and ammonia. Chrysanthemums require bright light and frequent watering. As houseplants, they will keep their flowers for around 6 weeks. They rarely re-bloom indoors. Since they are inexpensive, many people simply replace a faded Chrysanthemum with a new one in full flower.