Do air purifying plants really work?
Sort of, but not the way the internet suggests. The whole idea traces back to a 1989 NASA study that put common houseplants in small sealed boxes and found they pulled out chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene. That result was real, and it is why these NASA air purifying plants got their (inter)stellar reputation.
The catch is that your living room is not a sealed box. In 2019, researchers at Drexel University re-checked decades of plant research and found that a normal home swaps its air far faster than a few plants ever could. To match what an open window or your air system already does, you would need something like 10 to 1,000 plants packed into one small room.
(And, while we know you love plants, you’re probably not hitting that number!)
So a plant or two won’t clean your air in a measurable way.
But wait! What plants do give you is worth having anyway. They add moisture to dry indoor air, they make a room feel calmer and more alive, and caring for one can lower stress. In a 2015 study, people who spent a few minutes tending a plant felt more relaxed than people doing a screen task. So there are real, lovely benefits.
If clean air is your main goal, open a window when you can and lean on your air system, which the Drexel team found does the heavy lifting. Then add plants based on how they make the space (and you) feel.
The 12 best air purifying plants for your home
These are the best indoor plants for air purification we grow and deliver, drawn from the classic NASA list and sorted to help you find one that suits your room. Each is easy to live with, and most of them handle less-than-perfect light.
| Plant | Light it Likes | Safe for pets? | Care level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snake plant | Low to bright indirect | No | Very easy |
| Peace lily | Low to medium indirect | No | Easy |
| Spider plant | Bright indirect | Yes | Easy |
| Golden pothos | Low to bright indirect | No | Very easy |
| ZZ plant | Low to medium indirect | No | Very easy |
| Bamboo palm | Medium indirect | Yes | Easy |
| Boston fern | Bright indirect | Yes | Medium |
| Parlor palm | Low to medium indirect | Yes | Easy |
| Dracaena Reflexa | Medium indirect | No | Easy |
| Rubber plant | Bright indirect | No | Easy |
| Chinese Evergreen Maria | Low to medium indirect | No | Easy |
| Money tree | Bright indirect | Yes | Easy |
Snake Plant
If you forget about plants for weeks at a time, the snake plant is your friend. It copes with low light, it wants water only when the soil is fully dry, and its tall upright leaves suit a narrow spot by a bed or a sofa. It also does something unusual, taking in carbon dioxide at night rather than during the day, which is why it gets recommended for bedrooms. Keep it away from pets, since it is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed.
Peace Lily
The peace lily will tell you when it is thirsty, drooping its leaves and perking back up within hours of a drink (so you don’t have to keep checking the soil and getting dirty fingers!). It flowers indoors with soft white blooms, and it is happy in medium or low light, so a spot away from the window works fine. It is toxic to cats and dogs, so a shelf or a pet-free room is best.
Spider Plant
Here is a great starter plant that is also safe for pets. The spider plant sends out arching leaves and little baby plants you can pot up and share when you get people together for game night. Hang it or set it on a shelf in bright, indirect light, water it when the top of the soil dries, and it will forgive the odd missed watering.
Golden Pothos
Trailing and almost impossible to kill, the golden pothos (and any other pothos variations in the family) grows happily in anything from low light to bright, which makes it a good pick for a tricky corner or a high shelf. Its heart-shaped leaves cascade beautifully over a planter. It is toxic to pets, so keep those trailing vines up and out of reach.
ZZ plant
The ZZ plant is happiest in a spot that barely gets daylight, like a north-facing room or a windowless office with a lamp. It grows a little faster in bright, indirect light, but it keeps its deep green shine even in the gloom. It also stores water in its thick roots, so you can leave it two to three weeks between drinks. Keep it on a shelf or somewhere your pets do not go, since it is toxic if chewed.
Bamboo palm
For a leafy, tropical look that is also pet-safe, the bamboo palm is hard to beat. It brings soft height to a room without demanding bright sun, doing well in medium, indirect light. Water it when the top inch or two of soil feels dry, and it will hold its full, green shape for years.
Boston fern
The Boston fern is the lushest of the bunch and another safe option around cats and dogs. It does ask for a bit more from you, liking humidity and steady moisture, so a bathroom with a window or a spot near a small humidifier suits it well. Hanging it shows off those feathery fronds and keeps them off the floor.
Parlor palm
A quiet classic, the Parlor palm has been brightening low-light homes for generations, and it is pet-safe too. It stays a manageable size, prefers gentle indirect light, and asks only for water when the soil surface dries. Set it on a side table or the floor of a shadier room.
Dracaena Reflexa
With slim, arching leaves and a tidy shape, the Dracaena Reflexa fits smaller floors and side tables while still adding height. Give it medium, indirect light and water it about once a week, letting the soil dry a little between drinks. It is toxic to pets, so keep it out of nibbling range.
Rubber plant
Big, glossy leaves make the rubber plant a real presence, and it grows into a proper floor plant when it has room. It likes bright, indirect light and a drink once the top couple of inches of soil dry out. Wipe the leaves now and then so they can soak up light. It is not safe for pets.
Chinese Evergreen Maria (Aglaonema)
The Chinese Evergreen Maria (from the Aglaonema family) brings the style with patterned, silvery-green leaves that stay colorful even in lower light, so it works where fussier plants sulk. It is slow, steady, and easy, wanting water when the soil surface dries. Keep it away from pets, since it is toxic if chewed.
Money tree
The Money tree has a braided trunk and a full, rounded canopy, and it is safe for cats and dogs, which makes it a favorite for pet homes. It likes bright, indirect light and a drink when the top inch or two of soil dries. It is a warm, friendly plant that fills a corner without taking over your entire room!
Best air purifying plants for the bedroom
For a bedroom, we usually steer people toward the snake plant. It is calm to look at, it takes almost no effort, and its habit of releasing oxygen at night is a nice touch for the room where you sleep. If your bedroom light is low, the ZZ plant and golden pothos are easy companions. And if you share the bed with a cat who likes to nibble, go with the pet-safe money tree or parlor palm instead.
Pet-safe air purifying plants
Plenty of the popular "air purifying" plants are toxic to cats and dogs, so if you have animals, choose carefully. We check every plant against the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant list, and these five are safe:
- Spider plant, easy and cheerful, great for a hanging spot.
- Bamboo palm, for soft tropical height without the sun.
- Boston fern, lush and feathery, happiest with a little humidity.
- Parlor palm, a low-light classic that stays a friendly size.
- Money tree, a full, rounded plant with a braided trunk.
Even with safe plants, a curious pet that eats a lot of any leaf can get an upset stomach, so it is still worth keeping plants where paws do not roam.
Air purifying plants for low light
Low light is where a lot of these plants shine, because many of them grew up on shady tropical floors before they became our indoor faves. The snake plant, ZZ plant, golden pothos, parlor palm, and Chinese Evergreen Maria all cope with a dim corner or a windowless room with a bit of lamp light. For a bathroom without much sun, a Boston fern will enjoy the extra humidity, as long as it gets some light during the day.
Your questions about air purifying plants, answered
Do air purifying plants really work? A little, but not enough to clean a whole room. The famous NASA results came from sealed boxes, and later Drexel research found a normal home's airflow does far more to keep your air fresh. Keep plants for the calm, humidity, and beauty they add, and open a window for fresh air.
Which plant gives off oxygen at night? The snake plant is the classic pick. Most plants give off oxygen during the day, but the snake plant does it at night, which is why it turns up on so many bedroom lists.
How many plants do I need to clean the air in a room? Far more than anyone keeps at home. NASA once suggested a plant for every 100 square feet, but the 2019 review found you would need hundreds in one room to rival simple ventilation. Enjoy a few for how they feel, not as an air cleaner.
Which air purifying plants are safe for cats and dogs? Spider plant, bamboo palm, Boston fern, parlor palm, and money tree are all non-toxic per the ASPCA. Snake plant, peace lily, pothos, ZZ plant, dracaena, rubber plant, and Chinese evergreen are toxic, so keep those out of reach.
Do air purifying plants help with mold? Not really. No houseplant removes mold spores from your air in a way you would notice, and an overwatered plant can even add moisture that mold likes. Good airflow and fixing damp spots do the real work.
We’re always straight with you
A few plants will not replace your air system, and we will always tell you that. What they will do is soften a room, add a little humidity, give you something calming to care for, and make a space feel like yours. On top of that, the plants above are some of the easiest to keep alive, which is a good place to start whether this is your first plant or your fifteenth.
If you want help choosing, this is where we come in. We grow these plants in our own greenhouse, we deliver the big ones ourselves by van, and before you buy anything, you can book a free video shopping call and we will walk you through the greenhouse on camera, show you the exact plant coming to your home, and match it to your light and your pets. You can see our full range on the best air purifying plants collection whenever you are ready to have a look.