We probably all learned in a science class that plants absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. We’ve also probably learned at some point that without the world’s jungles and forests our air would quickly become unbreathable.

When discussing air quality, people most often focus on the atmosphere in general. But of almost equal importance, is the quality of the air inside our workplaces where we spend a third or more of our time and are exposed to pollutants from cleaning supplies, paints and varnishes or even residual pesticides on fruits and vegetables.

February is National Care About Your Indoor Air Month, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to talk about the air purification properties of indoor plantscapes. Relying on the wealth of horticultural knowledge here at Leafscape and a study on the air purification qualities of indoor plants performed by NASA, we’ve come up with a list eight plants you can put in your office or give as gifts to clean air and spruce up the workplace.

Snake Plant

You may know it as mother-in-law’s tongue, but what you probably didn’t know is that it’s excellent for filtering formaldehyde, which can be found in cleaning and personal care products. It thrives in low light and humid conditions making it perfect for a steamy bathroom or a dark conference room.

Devil’s Ivy

Also known as golden pothos, this fast-growing vine is another of the best for filtering formaldehyde. It maintains its green color in low light, so will make an excellent choice cascading from a hanging pot in an area of the office that only gets artificial light.

English Ivy

Like devil’s ivy, this vine is an excellent filter of formaldehyde and is easy to maintain. It grows well in moderate temperatures and medium to high light levels. It can be striking flowing from a hanging pot or as skirting at the base of a larger plant, but it’s also an evergreen when planted outdoors.

Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum

Don’t let the peace lily fool you with its serene name and stately white blossoms, it packs a punch when it comes to filtering formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. It also thrives in low-light conditions.

Red-Edged Dracaena or Dracaena Marginata

This shrub can grow to reach the ceiling and its red-edged leaves are sure to make it stunning addition to your office. It’s best for removing xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, which can be introduced to indoor air from lacquers and varnishes. It comes in several different growth forms such as staggered cane, braided cane and bush, to name a few.

Dracaena Warnecki

Similar to its cousin the Marginata, this Dracaena is also good for combating the pollutants associated with varnishes and oils. It grows easily indoors even without direct sunlight, has striped leaves, and comes in many growth forms like the Marginata.

Aloe

Lots of folks call it Aloe Vera. Whatever you call it, this plant is easy-to-grow. It’s a great gift plant for a desk in an office with lots of windows as it requires higher light levels than the other plants previously mentioned.  It clears formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners and paints.  Also, the gel inside an aloe plant can help heal cuts and burns.

Spider Plant

This plant is the perfect office-warming gift for those with brown thumbs. However, they need plenty of light in order to thrive and produce small white flowers.  They are particularly good at clearing benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries.

Whatever type of plantscapes you choose for your office, let our Green Team keep  them beautiful for you and you’ll have a verdantly decorated place to work in and clean air to breathe.