7 Best Air-Purifying Plants for Your Home (Plus a Pro Tip)
By Robert Chen|Published on July 13, 2022|Updated on January 23, 2025
Plants do way more than just look pretty on a shelf! Air-purifying plants are like natural filters—they pump out fresh oxygen while trapping dust and soaking up common indoor toxins. In fact, NASA even put together a famous list of the best plants for the job.
[[pflanzen]]
++Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
The Golden Pothos is a classic for a reason. With its lush, heart-shaped green leaves, it’s a total showstopper. You can train it to climb up trellises or poles, but it looks just as stunning trailing down from a hanging basket. Not only does the foliage filter pollutants, but because this plant loves high humidity, it’s a perfect choice for your bathroom. Just a heads-up: keep it out of reach of pets and small kiddos, as the leaves can be toxic if eaten.
++Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
Part of the Arum family, the Dieffenbachia features large, striking leaves with patterns ranging from deep forest green to bright creamy yellow. Beyond its good looks, it has a bit of a royal history—it was named after Joseph Dieffenbach, the head gardener at Schönbrunn Palace (the famous home of Empress Sissi). Like the Pothos, though, this one is toxic, so handle it with care.
++Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
The Snake Plant (or “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue”) is a member of the asparagus family and is practically indestructible. It has sleek, upright leaves and doesn’t mind if you forget to water it once in a while. It’s a powerhouse at filtering toxins like benzene and formaldehyde. Since it actually produces most of its oxygen at night, it’s the ultimate bedroom plant for a fresh night’s sleep. Just keep in mind it can be harmful to pets and toddlers if they decide to take a bite.
++Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia)
The name “lancifolia” refers to this plant’s unique, lance-shaped leaves. With its bold patterns of green and purple, the Calathea is a total eye-catcher and a favorite for photographers. It’s great at boosting oxygen levels and trapping toxins. Best of all? Unlike the plants mentioned above, the Calathea is non-toxic and pet-friendly!
++Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
--500x331.jpg" alt="Weeping Fig" width="500" height="331" class="alignnone size-medium-large wp-image-40596" srcset="https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--500x331.jpg 500w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--300x198.jpg 300w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--768x508.jpg 768w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--1536x1016.jpg 1536w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--2048x1355.jpg 2048w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--308x205.jpg 308w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--234x156.jpg 234w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--138x92.jpg 138w, https://guterboden.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Birkenfeige--350x232.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
The Weeping Fig looks like a beautiful miniature tree indoors. Native to Southeast Asia, it thrives in standard room temperatures year-round. It looks best when it has a little room to grow tall and fill out a corner. Its leaves are great at scrubbing xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde from the air. While it can be dangerous for small pets if eaten, it’s generally not a risk for humans.
++Kentia Palm (Howea)
If you want to bring some tropical vibes into your home, the Kentia Palm is the way to go. It’s incredibly low-maintenance but works overtime filtering pollutants. This makes it a top pick for large offices or for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of time for a strict watering schedule. Plus, it’s completely non-toxic.
++Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
The Peace Lily is the height of elegance with its deep green leaves and graceful white blooms. When it comes to air cleaning, this plant is a heavy hitter. It filters benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, and trichloroethylene, while also reducing toluene and xylene. Very few plants cover as much ground as the Peace Lily! It also helps regulate indoor humidity, making the air feel much fresher.
%%Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
If you prefer colorful flowers over plain green leaves, the Chrysanthemum is a fantastic air purifier. It filters a wide range of toxins and produces gorgeous blooms. These have been cultivated in Japan for centuries and are a symbol of the Imperial House. Just a pro-tip: some people get a mild skin reaction from touching them, so it’s a good idea to wear gloves when you’re repotting.
