7 Houseplants That May Be Good for Your Health

Peace lilies, which are members of the genus Spathiphyllum, have a reputation for being easy to grow — so they’re especially suitable for rookie gardeners who are dubious about their ability to keep houseplants alive.

A number of studies have suggested they’re good for the air quality in your home, too. One study suggested that peace lilies helped remove CO2 and the VOC formaldehyde from the air, while other research has suggested that peace lilies can reduce the total amount of VOCs in the air.

A word of caution: Keep peace lilies out of the reach of children and pets. The plant contains calcium oxalate, a substance that can irritate the stomach and respiratory tract if consumed in large amounts, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

How to Care for Them You can put peace lilies in medium to low light, but they’re more likely to produce flowers in bright, indirect light. Don’t overwater them, but do keep the soil moist.

Another easy-to-care-for plant, the golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) doesn’t just look pretty, with its vines and heart-shaped leaves: It’s also known for being a natural air purifier. For example, one study suggested that golden pothos can effectively lower indoor ozone levels. And other research on the air-purifying benefits of plants showed that, like the peace lily, the golden pothos plant can remove VOCs from the air.

Keep in mind that, also like the peace lily, the golden pothos contains oxalate, which the Pet Poison Hotline notes can be harmful to your pets if ingested.

How to Care for Them This low-maintenance plant is also a good choice for people who may have erratic watering habits. Just take care to not overwater them.

The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a perennial plant known for its long, narrow, cascading leaves, which resemble a spider’s legs. The Clemson Cooperative Extension points out that they make excellent hanging basket plants. Like other plants on this list, they’re known for absorbing harmful toxins in the air, per the Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension.

How to Care for Them The spider plant is low-maintenance and easy to grow, and prefers moderate to bright indirect light, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Plus, if you’re the type to forget to water your plant, don’t worry: “This tough plant thrives on neglect,” adds the IFAS. Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings.

Don’t let the name of this houseplant fool you; this succulent plant won’t scare you at all. The snake plant (which is also known by the scientific name Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii and as “mother-in-law’s tongue”) has tall green leaves, like swords, that are graceful and elegant. And keeping a snake plant in your home can also help you breathe a little easier: It was included among the plants in the NASA study that removes toxins from the air.

How to Care for Them Snake plants prefer warmer temperatures, so place them in a warm spot in your home. Bright indirect light is usually the best kind of light for a snake plant, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, but if all you have is a shady corner, it should do just fine there, too (although it may grow a little more slowly). Let the soil dry out between waterings.

You often see English ivy (Hedera helix) outdoors, but it makes a nice houseplant, too. One study found that this plant was successful at lowering the level of carbon dioxide and formaldehyde in the air in a laboratory environment. And another study noted that the English ivy plant filters VOCs like benzene, xylene, and toluene from the air, and has even been shown to reduce mold.

But once again, watch out for your pets — English ivy is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA.

How to Care for Them Bright indirect light is the way to go for English ivy. Use a container with good drainage, and water these plants thoroughly but then let the soil on top dry out before you water it again, advises the Clemson Cooperative Extension.

The Dracaena Warneckii, or Janet Craig plant, is an elegant plant with long tapered leaves that may also be able to help remove some toxins from the air, per the NASA study. But like some other plants, this plant is toxic to animals like cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA, so keep your furry friends in mind when choosing this type of plant.

How to Care for Them This plant doesn’t require much hands-on care, but it’s a good idea to avoid putting a Dracaena plant in direct light. It should flourish in medium, indirect light. Let the soil dry a bit between waterings.

The NASA study was conducted in a lab, rather than a real-life setting, but a more recent study placed several plants in the Ficus genus, including the rubber plant, in a new building. The researchers found that the plants were effective at removing VOCs from the air in this real-world setting.

How to Care for Them You can grow a rubber plant in a container either inside your home or on your patio or porch. They’ll grow well in sun or shade, and they’re tolerant to drought, but make sure the soil is able to drain well.

How to Get Started and Choose a Plant

To truly purify the air in your home, an air cleaner with a filter like a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that can trap allergens and irritants is probably your best bet.

But as Blocker says, “While a lot of plants are likely needed to effectively clean the air, it never hurts to try.”

Don’t be anxious if you’re new to plant care! Talk to the people at your local plant store or nursery for some advice. They might also suggest some other plants that are suited to your space, like aloe vera, Boston ferns, or areca palms.

Once you’ve settled on a few plants, make sure to note any instructions about light and drainage, because those are the biggest factors that will contribute to the health and vibrancy of your plants, Behr says.

“Start small with simple, low-maintenance plants and let your collection grow as your knowledge base — and confidence — grows,” he advises.

Mysore also recommends starting with plants that will suit your lifestyle. “I have a toddler and a dog that is super active, and I need plants that could survive with me forgetting to water for one week — and they exist. It’s about finding them,” she says.

And sometimes, the best plant is the one you’re excited to have in your home. For example, maybe you just like the way a plant smells, and that’s a good reason to add it to your home: “Not only is scent intimately tied with memory, aromatics have the power to stimulate your mind and decrease stress levels,” says Behr.