20 Best Air-Purifying Plants (And How To Keep Them Alive)

From reducing stress levels to improving your focus, houseplants have many benefits. But did you know that some species of air-filtering plants can even lowe your chances of getting liver damage, kidney disease, and cancer?

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are used to make most home products—furniture, paint, carpets, and even the construction materials used to make the home itself. Over time, VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and toluene are off-gassed into the air and can cause serious health issues.

Typical electrostatic air filters can’t remove VOCs, but luckily, there’s an aesthetically pleasing, natural, NASA-proven way to return your air to a better state: stocking your home with air-purifying plants. Read on to learn more about the 20 best air-purifying plants you can put in your home, as well as care instructions for each species according to the experts at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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We’re going with NASA on this one. According to the air-purifying plants study, the peace lily is unmatched in its ability to filter a range of chemicals from your air. Pair that with its low maintenance and unique look, and there’s no doubt it tops our list of best air-filtering plants.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Keep soil moistTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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Ask any botanist which household plant requires the least maintenance, and the snake plant will surely be mentioned. This trendy plant makes for an excellent gift for avid travelers who are away from their homes for weeks at a time, or anyone else interested in low-maintenance, air-purifying plants.

Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-watering, but soil can also become moderately dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Low, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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Devil’s ivy, money plant, hunter’s robe—the golden pothos plant goes by many aliases. But no matter what you call it, there’s no denying this species’ ability to purify carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde from your air. It’s also one of the quickest-growing (and easiest to maintain) houseplants, so it’s great for beginner home gardeners.

Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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No relation to actual bamboo, this palm makes an excellent floor piece in any home. The eye-catching fronds create an interesting and natural centerpiece, all while silently filtering the benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from your air.

Light: Low light to medium lightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Nontoxic

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In a recent study, chemists at the State University of New York Oswego found bromeliads, like the Scarlet Star, to remove 80% of VOCs from the air in only 12 hours. These flowering plants love humid environments, so consider placing them in the bathroom where they can soak up the steam from your showers.

Light: Bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: High, 50% or higher humidityNeed to Know: Nontoxic

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The leaves of English Ivy come in many different styles, but all are mesmerizing when trailing down bookcases or out of hanging planters. Pot your ivy in soil or water and give it nutrients, and it becomes a low-maintenance, air-filtering piece of natural art.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Cool to average, 50 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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The spider plant has become one of the most popular houseplants of modern times, and for good reason. In addition to being nontoxic, low-maintenance, and easy on the eyes, it works well as a carbon monoxide and VOC eliminator.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Keep soil moistTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Nontoxic

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While the Boston Fern will do just fine in average humidity, a savvy plant owner will consider moving it into the bathroom with the Scarlet Star for some serious growth. When it outgrows its current pot, you can easily separate the roots into two separate plants. Keep this propagation cycle going to turn your home into a mini Jurassic world.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average to high, 25% to 50% or higher humidityNeed to Know: Nontoxic

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Aloe vera plants are not only useful after you forget to re-apply your reef-safe sunscreen. They’re also great to keep in your home for their air-filtering properties. Make sure they get plenty of sun (or install indoor grow lights if natural light isn’t an option), and they’ll earn their keep by removing formaldehyde from your air.

Light: At least 4 hours of direct sunlight per dayWater: Soil can become moderately dry before re-wateringTemperature: Warm, 70 to 85 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Low, 5% to 24% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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20 Best Air-Purifying Plants (And How To Keep Them Alive)

One of the most popular indoor plants in the world, the Chinese Evergreen thrives in low-medium light, making it ideal for brightening up darker corners of your home. For centuries, this plant has been bred throughout Asia as a “lucky plant,” and in NASA’s clean air study, scientists proved its ability to bring the fortune of good health.

Light: Low light to medium lightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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Corn plants’ thick canes make them visually appealing, but they’re also one of the most effective air-purifying plants, removing VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon dioxide. Plus, their care is near foolproof, so they’re a great choice for those of us who don’t exactly have a green thumb.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to pets if ingested

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Improving your air quality is near effortless with the Janet Craig plant. This large, easy-to-grow floor plant can survive in anything from low light to bright, indirect light and doesn’t need much water. It fills a room beautifully, purifying the air at the same time.

Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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Haven’t yet swapped harsh household disinfectants for eco-friendly cleaning products? The ornate broadleaf lady palm can help remove toxic ammonia that may be trapped in the air in your home or apartment.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Nontoxic

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Weeping figs, also called ficus trees, are easy to care for and have superior formaldehyde-filtering abilities. However, if you have a sensitive immune system, this may not be the plant for you—weeping figs are one of the most common sources of household allergens, behind dust and pet dander.

Light: Bright, indirect sunlight to direct sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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If you’re looking for an air-purifying plant that grows tall quickly, consider a rubber plant. When given the proper care, this species—which was named for its latex-loaded sap—can grow up to two feet per growing season, topping out at about 10 feet tall.

Light: Medium light to direct sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average to warm, 65 to 85 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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Cellar Door Plants

Areca palms not only filter indoor toxins from the air, but they also act as a natural humidifier, adding moisture to the air around them. If you have playful pets, they may be attracted to the palm’s dangling fronds, but rest assured they’re nontoxic and won’t harm your animals if bitten or swatted at.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Keep soil moistTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Nontoxic

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A pop of bright color can liven up any room, and in that regard, the flamingo lily has you covered. This plant promotes wellness by removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonium while adding a vibrant touch to your house or apartment.

Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Keep soil moistTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average to high, 25% to 50% or higher humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested or touched

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Prefer the look of blooming flowers to leafy green plants? Chrysanthemums are an excellent pick. Simply pot these flowers, set them on a sunny windowsill, and enjoy a home with fewer traces of formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia.

Light: At least 4 hours of direct sunlight per dayWater: Keep soil moistTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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The Warneckii is yet another species in the Dracaena genus that performed well in NASA’s clean air study. The best part about this plant? You can pot a small clipping or larger stalks to fill any space in your home or apartment—no matter how big or small.

Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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It’s safe to say dragon trees are having a moment. These trendy air-purifying plants have become a popular fixture of modern decor, but their benefits go far beyond aesthetics—they also filter trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon dioxide from the air around you.

Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlightWater: Soil’s surface should dry before re-wateringTemperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees FahrenheitHumidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidityNeed to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

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Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

Melissa Smith is an avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in journalism and sustainable studies. Before joining EcoWatch, Melissa worked as the managing editor of Scuba Diving magazine and the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a non-profit that’s featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.