Best Indoor Air Cleaning Plants
Ranked #230 in Home & Garden, #3,777 overall
Air cleaning plants that make a difference
What started as a small idea, kept growing and growing - into an extensive list with accompanying images - of air cleaning plants that proved to remove the most pollutants out of the air we breathe inside our homes.
The conventional way of building new houses might be fast and convenient, however, it also "implements" our indoor environments with numerous toxins that cause all kinds of health issues to the residents of these homes.
Let's look at some of the most well known indoor air toxins - and where they come from:
- formaldehyde - ubiquitous chemical found in virtually all indoor environments
- foam insulation
- particle board or pressed wood products used in manufacturing of the office furniture
- consumer paper products which have been treated with UF resins, including grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues and paper towels
- common household cleaners
- UF resins are known to be used as stiffeners, wrinkle resisters, water repellents, fire retardants and adhesive binders in floor coverings, carpet backings and permanent-press clothes
- other sources: heating and cooking fuels like natural gas, kerosene, and cigarette smoke
- benzene - commonly used solvent, found in
- gasoline
- inks
- oils and paints
- plastics and rubber
- also used in the manufacturing of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and dyes
- carbon monoxide
- trichloroethylene (TCE) - commercial product found in
- metal degreasing and dry cleaning products
- printing inks
- paints and lacquers
- varnishes and adhesives
This lens is not about what kind of health-related problems each of the chemicals, mentioned above might be causing. Instead, we're focusing on solutions and improvement of the indoor air - with air cleaning plants.
Every green plant helps cleaning the air. The ones, mentioned below just proved to be the most efficient ones in numerous studies, including those done by NASA.
Intro image credit
Contents at a Glance
- Some general rules of thumb for air clea...
- Aloe Vera, Burn plant (Aloe barbabensis)
- Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus)
- Bamboo palm / Reed palm (Chamaedorea sei...
- Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
- Australian sword fern 'Kimberly Queen' (...
- Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Azalea (Rhododendron obtusum / simsii)
- Heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron sp...
Some general rules of thumb for air cleaning plants
- air cleaning plants purify and renew our stale indoor air - by filtering out toxins, pollutants and carbon dioxide we exhale - and replacing them with pure oxygen
- one houseplant per 100 square feet of living area or three plants per room should do the work (recommendations vary, some sources recommend the number of plants per person)
- keep in mind that the more vigorous the plant, the more air it can filter
- air cleaning plants indoor will perform best if they are not exposed to the draft
- leaves of the air cleaning plants should be free of dust
Aloe Vera, Burn plant (Aloe barbabensis)

Photo courtesy of girishkatke
Aloe vera gel for many skin conditions
Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus)

Photo courtesy of Xavier Agostini
Bamboo palm / Reed palm (Chamaedorea seifritzii)

Photo courtesy of edible_plum
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

Photo courtesy of Brispics
Palms and bamboo add tropical look
Australian sword fern 'Kimberly Queen' (Nephrolepis obliterata)

Photo courtesy of barefootprinter
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Photo courtesy of Andrea Mutz-Mercier
Ferns are great air cleaners and nicely fill up empty spaces
Azalea (Rhododendron obtusum / simsii)

Photo courtesy of bonsaikiptb
Azaleas flowering shrubs, royalty of the garden
Heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron sp.)

Photo courtesy of Melina.
Philodendron / Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)

Photo Elephant ears - courtesy of Lyle58
Selloum philodendron (Philodendron selloum)

Photo courtesy of Berl M Thomas
Philodendrons or "love trees" are large flowering plants
Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis "Janet Craig")

Photo courtesy of GreenScaper
Marginata / Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)

Photo courtesy of Siti Mariam Binti Othman
Mass cane / Corn plant / Cane plant (Dracaena massangeana)

Photo courtesy of Donnie Lee
Warneckii (Dracaena deremensis "Warneckii")

Photo courtesy of found_drama
Dracaenas or "female dragons" are trees or succulent shrubs
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

Photo courtesy of Araceae
Chinese Evergreen is among the easiest houseplants to grow
Hirt's Exotic Siam Chinese Evergreen Plant - Aglaonema - Grows in Dim Light
Amazon Price: $27.50 (as of 05/26/2012)![]()
Chinese Evergreen is a frequent ornamental plant choice not only in homes, but also in offices and shopping malls because it's so easy to grow.
Aglaonema tolerates a wide range of light conditions, neglect and is rather resistant to pests.
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia sp.)

Photo courtesy of jayjayc
English ivy (Hedera helix)

Photo courtesy of zen
English Ivy is an evergreen climbing plant or a groundcover where there is no vertical support
Thorndale English Ivy 4 Plants - Hardy Groundcover
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 05/26/2012)![]()
These plants have very pretty leaves, they grow fast and are very easy to grow. Keep them away from cats, though!
Ficus (Ficus sp.)

Photo courtesy of evilgreg3000
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

Photo courtesy of greywood
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

Photo courtesy of GreenScaper
Ficus or fig trees are woody plants
Gerbera daisies (Gerbera sp.)

Photo courtesy of pieceoflace
Gerberas or African Daisies are famous favorites for their bold colors
Mother-in-law's tongue / Snake plant (Sansevieria laurentii / Sansevieria trifasciata)

Photo courtesy of sandiv999
For detailed description of this air cleaning plant, for care instructions, requirements and propagation click on the link below (a new window will open):
Mother in law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) or Snake plant
Snake plant or Tiger's Tail is used as a charm against evil in Africa
Mums (Chrysanthemum sp.)

Photo courtesy of Grandma BJ
Peace lily (Spatiphyllum "Mauna Loa")

Photo courtesy of algo
Pothos, Golden Pothos (Epipremnum sp.)

Photo courtesy of yoshiko314
For detailed description of this air cleaning plant, for care instructions, requirements and propagation click on the link below (a new window will open):
Pothos plant (Epipremnum aureum)
Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum)

Photo courtesy of jayjayc
For detailed description of this air cleaning plant, for care instructions, requirements and propagation click on the link below (a new window will open):
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Air cleaning plants talks
Twitts about popular air cleaning plants
Do you have your favorite indoor air cleaning plant?
How effective dou you think air cleaning plants are?
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RuralFloridaLiving
May 8, 2012 @ 6:19 pm | delete
- Great - I love them
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NaturalVamp
May 7, 2012 @ 3:31 am | delete
- I have sure learned a lot here dahling. The ficus smile made my day.
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sashasamber
Apr 29, 2012 @ 7:28 am | delete
- Love your pictures!
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wrapitup4me
Apr 15, 2012 @ 12:44 am | delete
- I have many of these and didn't realize they were also working for me at the same time as making my house feel outdoorsy.
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TapIn2U Apr 13, 2012 @ 11:05 am | delete
- This is brilliant. I love plants. These are perfect for any part of the house or office. Fantastic lens! Sundae ;-)
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Ruthi
Apr 13, 2012 @ 8:44 am | delete
- Excellent information for indoor plants to give us cleaner air to breathe, thank you. Just yesterday I was thinking of getting a few new house plants, so I am glad I saw this page for indoor air cleaning plants before I make my new additions. Blessings and a bit o' sunshine!
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