Plants and gardens bring our senses alive with beautiful colors and aromas. But did you know all plants safeguard the air you breathe by removing toxins and dangerous invisible particles in the environment? So, air purifying plants play important roles in everyone’s life because they are excellent for our health. Also, houseplants enhance the environment in more ways than adding beauty to our surroundings.
Household necessities like furniture, carpeting and even construction materials release invisible fumes and chemicals that are bad for our health. However, one way to rid living spaces of harmful toxins is with the use of air purifying plants. And each of the plants on this list is famous for absorbing and filtering pollution from the environment. Many have antiseptic, bacteria-killing properties to kill germs, too. Remember, for the best results, use one mature plant per 100 square feet of space.
Air Purifying Plants for Your Home
- African Violets: Grow well indoors and require bright indirect light. But be sure to water this velvet-like plant from below. So, just fill the pot’s drain dish with water for the plant to drink.
- American Rubber Plant: Tolerates low light conditions found in many homes and is easy to care for, too. Also, this plant is an excellent choice for air purification and one of the best for cleansing indoor toxins.
- Swedish Ivy: Another common safe houseplant that is easy to grow and will tolerate indoor conditions well while improving air quality. In addition, this plant grows well in a hanging basket in windows out of direct sunlight.
- Begonia: Comes in many leafy and colored varieties. Also, it grows nicely indoors with several types that flower for an added touch of beauty. And in some parts of the country, Begonias will grow outdoors year-round and make a nice patio plant.
- Holly and Boston Fern: Popular houseplants that do a great job of cleaning the air and are known for removing formaldehyde indoors. Best of all, they are easy to grow in low light, cooler homes.
Air Purifying Plants That are Herbal in Nature
Here are five herbs that are air purifying plants that not only bring your senses to life but have medicinal properties and enhance meals:
- Basil: Easy to grow as a potted plant and brings a nice aroma with healing properties to any room. Additionally, as an antiviral and antioxidant this herb helps to purify the air of free radicals and viruses.
- Rosemary: Another easy to grow healing and culinary herb that is excellent for air purifying where pets and children live. And rosemary can improve cognitive function and shield your brain from free radicals.
- Sage: Grows in a few varieties with different uses in healing or cooking. Also, Native Americans have long used Sage smoke for purification purposes and healing.
- Thyme: Another favorite culinary herb that is excellent at cleaning the air we breathe. Thyme is known to have antiseptic, bacteria-killing properties that play a role in detoxing the environment.
- Lavender: An old time favorite herb for freshening the air around the house. Lavender has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties and is an antiseptic that kills germs in the air and on surfaces.
A Few Final Words on Air Purifying Plants and Your Home
The 10 air purifying plants on this list can keep the air in your home clean and healthy with little care. In addition, several plants on this list also freshen the air while cleaning harmful substances from the room. And lastly, although these plants are child and pet safe, nobody should consume a plant in large amounts, so it’s best to keep them out of reach.
