Indoor Houseplants that Clean the Air in our Homes

Today, Mobee Weinstein, of New York Botanical Garden, recommends some of her favorite air-purifying indoor houseplants, all of which are easy to grow and widely available, and can serve as inexpensive, low-tech solutions to costly air filters.  In addition to the following, Mobee points out that aloe plants, orchids, tulips, azaleas, cyclamen, and gerbera daisies are also good options of indoor house plants.

List of Air-Purifying Houseplants

Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

A member of the Araceae family, this easy-to-grow, insect-resistant vine bears green, heart-shaped leaves with gold or cream highlights.  Commonly cultivated in hanging baskets or trained to climb, it grows quickly, tolerates most environments, and doesn’t lose its color when placed in dark settings.

Dracaena deremensis “Striped”

This member of the Agavaceae family produces green leaves with white stripes that measure about two feet long and two inches wide.  The house plant can grow to 10 feet tall, is tolerant of low light and dry air, and is especially effective in removing benzene. 

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)

The peace lily produces beautiful white spathes that unfold to reveal its flowers. Peace lily blooms reliably indoors and is effective in removing alcohols, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum “Vittatum”)

The spider plant is the first indoor houseplant proven to remove indoor air pollutants, this member of the Liliaceae family is the most common form of spider plant.  It bears green leaves with a broad cream or yellow stripe down their centers, as well as small, white flowers that bloom yearround.

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema crispum “Deborah”)

With its silvery, light-green, lance-shaped leaves, this slow-growing Araceae family member has the ability to increase its toxin-removal rate with exposure.   Also extremely tolerant of low light conditions (but not temperatures below 55° F), it blooms in late summer and early fall and can reach heights of three feet.

SPECIAL THANKS

Mobee Weinstein, New York Botanical Garden

RECOMMENDED READING

Dr. B.C. Wolverton

“How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office”

(Penguin, 1997).

Segment originally aired on the Martha Stewart Living television program on August 19, 2003.