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Top 5 most useful houseplants
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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How clean do you think the air is in your apartment?
Chemicals contained in building materials, furniture and air fresheners can make indoor air toxic, say researchers from the U.S. federal agency that studies the environment. However, not everything is so bad, some indoor plants that work for humans and saturate the air with oxygen, absorbing all harmful substances, can help improve the ecological situation in the house.
"Some houseplants release oxygen and help remove harmful chemicals from the air, such as formaldehyde, a powerful irritant to the upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. This substance can cause respiratory and neurological diseases and even lung cancer. Plants cannot cure asthma, but they can help a person breathe more freely," says Dr. B.S. Wolverton, a scientist and former NASA research scientist.
English Ivy
English ivy is a real leader among other indoor plants in terms of carbon dioxide absorption. In addition, this beautiful climbing plant is a natural sorbent. It cleans the air of formaldehyde, heavy metal salts and toxins. English ivy is simply a necessary purchase for those people whose apartment is on the first floor or whose house is close to major highways, and it is also a good idea to get this plant for those people who work in semi-basements.
Bamboo palm
The bamboo palm is a plant that requires care and is quite demanding in terms of feeding and watering, but the bamboo palm is a completely different matter. It is not picky at all and will be comfortable even in a place where the sun's rays fall for at least a few hours. It does not need to be watered often either. But it will be grateful even for this minimalism, because the bamboo palm is an excellent natural filter for cleaning the air. And as a bonus, you can also put this plant near your computer - the bamboo palm has the property of reducing the harm from electromagnetic radiation.
Spathiphyllum
This evergreen plant is also known as a lily. Spathiphyllum is an unpretentious houseplant that is not afraid of dirty work and will diligently fight the presence of household and industrial toxins in the air. Aristocratic and elegant lily can easily absorb vapors of benzene, acetone, ammonia and various alcohols. If you have just finished repairs in your home, spathiphyllum will help you get rid of chemical impurities in the air.
Lady Palm
The Lady Palm is a very useful plant, and not only because it has the ability to clean the air of harmful substances. This flower has a beneficial effect on the human respiratory system due to the saturation of the air with salts and minerals, so it is especially recommended for people suffering from asthma and heart disease. Experts advise putting the Lady Palm in the place where you like to relax, because it has a calming effect. By the way, if your boss sometimes has nervous problems, you can think about decorating his office with this plant.
Ficus
This plant is often found in apartments, and people who prefer ficus are doing the right thing. It may not look very impressive, but it practically does not cause allergies and perfectly cleans the air. Such a plant can be safely placed in children's rooms, especially since, according to experts, the bioactive substances that ficus releases help you fall asleep faster.