Improving your indoor air quality will improve your health and ease symptoms of minor respiratory illnesses, such as allergies. Beyond being living decorations, several indoor plants naturally purify the air. From flowers to non-flowering plants, below are four species to add to your indoor garden or home to clean the air.

House Plants That Will Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

1. Madagascar Dragon Tree

Scientifically known as the Dracaena marginata, the Madagascar Dragon Tree is a beautiful addition to any room. With green leaves that are slender and pointed, this tree has been shown to remove high amounts of formaldehyde from the air, as well as benzene and trichloroethylene. They thrive with indirect sunlight, thorough drainage, and occasional pruning.

2. Janet Craig

Another Dracaena variation — the Dracaena deremensis — this leafy plant adds rich green color and visual interest to any space. They’re low-maintenance, too, able to survive in low light with little watering, so even those who don’t have green thumbs can care for them. It filtered a whopping 76% of benzene from the air in a sealed room.

3. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue

Also known as the snake plant, or Sansevieria laurentii, this plant features long, green spikes as its leaves. It’s perfect for beginners, as it’s a form of succulent that needs minimal care. It can be kept inside at normal temperatures, needs minimal watering, and can survive a dry environment. In the controlled study, it removed almost 53% of benzene from the air.

4. Pot Mums

These beautiful flowers, also called Chrysanthemum morifolium, are easy to maintain and care for, as they need minimal watering, and can survive in weak indoor light. They’re most effective at filtering formaldehyde from the air, but they also remove high amounts of benzene — up to 53% during the controlled study mentioned above.

If you’re in need of air-cleaning plants for your home’s indoor garden or just to place throughout the house, visit Northgate Greenhouses in Cincinnati, OH. With 17 years of experience in greenhouse growing, the owners take pride in cultivating and nurturing beautiful, thriving flowers and plant life for you to enjoy. Open year-round, their award-winning greenhouses offer a variety of plant life, including annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, tropicals, herbs, vegetables, succulents, and more, as well as the supplies needed to care for them at home. Learn about their history online, then call (513) 729-1134 to inquire about specific species.