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15 Best Air Purifying Houseplants for Your Home

Improve the air quality in your home, the natural way.

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air purifying houseplants
Artfully79

Looking for a way to spruce up your indoor space while also making it healthier? We've got just the thing: air-purifying houseplants. These indoor plants, such as the peace lily, the bamboo palm, and English ivy, not only look great but also do wonders for cleaning up the air we breathe. And believe it or not, we owe this revelation to NASA! Back in 1989, the space agency conducted a study aimed at improving air quality in space stations. They found out that certain houseplants are total champs at filtering out harmful pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene from the air. Fast forward to today, and we're all about bringing those benefits into our homes and offices.

Whether you're into the funky leaves of a snake plant or the elegant blooms of a peace lily, there's a houseplant here to suit every taste and space. Even if you have a small living area, you can turn many of these options into indoor hanging plants to save space and adding a dynamic visual element to your decor. So, whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just starting out, add some of these air purifying houseplants to your indoor jungle for a fun and easy way to boost your home's ambiance while keeping things fresh and healthy.

1

Spider Plant

air purifying houseplants spider plant
Veena Nair

Known for its easy maintenance and air-purifying qualities, spider plants remove toxins like formaldehyde and xylene from the air. Its arching leaves with white stripes add a touch of elegance to any space, making it a popular choice for both beginners and seasoned plant enthusiasts.

2

Snake Plant

air purifying houseplants snake plant
Adam Yee

This plant is efficient at removing toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene. It's also low-maintenance, thriving in low light conditions.

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3

Peace Lily

easiest indoor plants peace lily
Helin Loik-Tomson

The peace lily, with its graceful white blooms and lush foliage, serves as more than just a decorative accent. It's also a natural air purifier that effectively removes toxins like ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

4

Aloe Vera

healthiest houseplants aloe vera
Olena Ruban

Aloe vera is known for its medicinal properties, but it also helps clear formaldehyde and benzene from the air. Additionally, aloe vera plants are low maintenance and thrive in indirect sunlight, making them an easy and effective choice for enhancing indoor air quality while adding a touch of greenery to any space.

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5

Bamboo Palm

air purifying houseplants bamboo palm
GCShutter

The bamboo palm is a popular choice for its tropical look and its ability to filter out benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. To care for a bamboo palm, provide bright, indirect light, keep the soil consistently moist, maintain humidity, and fertilize regularly during the growing season.

6

Boston Fern

air purifying houseplants boston fern
Marina Meshcherskaia

This plant is great for removing pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene. It requires high humidity and indirect light.

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7

Rubber Plant

easiest indoor plants rubber plant
Elena Grishina

The rubber plant, with its broad, glossy leaves, not only adds a touch of elegance to any room but also boasts impressive air-purifying qualities. Its ability to effectively remove toxins like formaldehyde from the air makes it a perfect choice for promoting a healthier living environment.

8

English Ivy

air purifying houseplants english ivy
flil

This charming plant is known to effectively filter out various indoor air pollutants, including formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and toluene, making it a valuable asset for improving indoor air quality.

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9

Gerbera Daisy

air purifying houseplants gerbera daisy
Andrei Lavrinov

Gerbera Daisies, with their vibrant petals and cheerful demeanor, not only brighten up any room but also help remove harmful toxins such as benzene and trichloroethylene from the air.

10

Philodendron

air purifying houseplants philodendron
Firn

This popular houseplant comes in several beautiful varieties, but they all have one thing in common: They're effective at removing toxins like formaldehyde and xylene from the air.

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11

Areca Palm

air purifying houseplants areca palm
Liudmila Chernetska

This tropical plant effectively removes toxins and also acts as a natural humidifier by absorbing water through its roots and releasing moisture through its leaves.

12

Weeping Fig Tree

air purifying houseplants weeping fig tree
Helin Loik-Tomson

This plant is not only a visually stunning addition to any indoor space but also a powerful air purifier. Its broad, lush foliage acts as a natural filter, trapping harmful toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene and releasing clean oxygen into the air.

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13

Money Plant

air purifying houseplants money plant
getty images

This popular and versatile houseplant is known for its attractive trailing vines and heart-shaped leaves. Apart from its aesthetic appeal, the money plant is valued for its air-purifying qualities. It efficiently removes toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and carbon monoxide from indoor air.

14

Flamingo Lily

air purifying houseplants flamingo lily
MARINA BOGACHYOVA

This tropical flowering plant is known for its vibrant, waxy flowers that come in shades of red, pink, or white and resemble the shape of a flamingo's head, hence its common name. The flamingo lily also boasts air-purifying properties, helping to remove toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia from indoor air.

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15

Dragon Tree

air purifying houseplants dragon tree
janzwolinski

With its slender, red-edged leaves, the dragon tree is an eye-catching plant that also purifies indoor air by removing toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.

Headshot of Tierney McAfee

Tierney McAfee is a freelance writer and Country Living and The Pioneer Woman contributor who covers entertainment, holiday & entertaining, food & drinks, design ideas, DIY, and more.

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