Let’s talk about the famous NASA Clean Air Study. Back in the 1980s, NASA researchers were trying to figure out how to keep air clean in sealed space stations. They tested various houseplants and found that yes, some plants can remove certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air in controlled chamber conditions. The media ran with this, and suddenly everyone believed that a few houseplants could transform indoor air quality.
Here’s the truth, backed by more recent research: houseplants do have air-purifying properties, but the effect in real homes is modest. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found that you’d need about 10 plants per square foot to match the air exchange rate of simply opening windows or running a basic ventilation system. That’s a LOT of plants—we’re talking jungle-level greenery.
So does that mean houseplants are useless for air quality? Not at all. They do remove small amounts of toxins. They do produce oxygen (during the day) and some even release oxygen at night. They increase humidity, which can help with respiratory comfort. And perhaps most importantly, research shows that simply being around plants reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances cognitive function. The psychological benefits are real and measurable.
Let’s set realistic expectations and meet the plants that offer the best combination of air-cleaning properties and practical care requirements for real homes.
12 Air Purifying Houseplants
Snake Plant
Snake Plants are unusual because they perform CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthesis, which means they release oxygen at night rather than during the day. This makes them genuinely beneficial in bedrooms. NASA’s study found they remove formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, benzene, xylene, and trichloroethylene from the air.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes formaldehyde (found in cleaning products, toilet paper, tissues, personal care products), benzene (found in tobacco smoke, stored paints, gasoline), and other VOCs. The unique nighttime oxygen release is particularly valuable—most plants only produce oxygen during daylight photosynthesis.
Why It’s Effective
The thick, upright leaves have a large surface area for gas exchange despite the plant’s relatively small footprint. CAM metabolism means they keep their pores (stomata) closed during the day to conserve water, then open them at night—when you’re sleeping—to exchange gases and release oxygen.
Peace Lily
Peace Lilies were among the top performers in NASA’s study, removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. They also add moisture to the air through transpiration, which can help with respiratory comfort—indoor air is often too dry, especially in winter.
Air-Purifying Properties
Particularly effective at removing ammonia (found in cleaning products), formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. Also releases significant moisture into the air through transpiration, increasing relative humidity by 5-10% in small rooms—helpful for respiratory health and skin comfort.
Why It’s Effective
Peace Lilies have large, abundant leaves with high transpiration rates, meaning they process a lot of air. They also have active root zones where microorganisms help break down VOCs. The combination of leaf absorption and soil microbe activity makes them particularly effective.
Aloe Vera
Aloe is famous for removing formaldehyde and benzene from the air. It’s a succulent that stores water in its gel-filled leaves, making it low-maintenance while still providing air-cleaning benefits. The bonus functional aspect—that gel really does soothe minor burns—makes it extra practical.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes formaldehyde (from furniture, flooring, cleaning products) and benzene (from paint, chemical cleaners, cigarette smoke). Like Snake Plants, Aloe performs CAM photosynthesis and releases some oxygen at night, though less dramatically than Snake Plants.
Why It’s Effective
The thick, gel-filled leaves have substantial surface area for gas absorption. The slow metabolism and water storage capacity mean the plant remains healthy with minimal care, providing consistent air-cleaning benefits. Aloe also tolerates a wide range of indoor conditions.
Spider Plant
Spider Plants are workhorses for removing formaldehyde, xylene, and carbon monoxide from indoor air. They’re also incredibly prolific—one mature plant can produce dozens of baby plants (spiderettes) that you can propagate to create an air-purifying plant army throughout your home.
Air-Purifying Properties
Particularly effective at removing formaldehyde (very common in indoor air from building materials, furniture, fabrics) and xylene (from paints, adhesives, markers). Also removes carbon monoxide to some degree—useful if you have an attached garage or gas appliances.
Why It’s Effective
Spider Plants have abundant, fast-growing foliage that processes significant air volume. They’re vigorous growers when healthy, which means active metabolism and gas exchange. The thick, tuberous roots also harbor beneficial microorganisms that help break down pollutants.
Golden Pothos
Pothos is famous for being nearly impossible to kill, and it also happens to be quite effective at removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. Its trailing vines mean you can have substantial plant mass in a relatively small footprint, maximizing air-purifying surface area.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and toluene from indoor air. The abundant foliage processes significant air volume, and Pothos grows vigorously even in less-than-ideal conditions, meaning consistent air-cleaning performance.
Why It’s Effective
Pothos produces abundant leaves quickly, and more leaf surface area means more air purification. The vigorous growth rate means active metabolism and gas exchange. Even in lower light where growth slows, healthy Pothos continues to process air through its existing foliage.
Dracaena
The Dracaena family includes multiple species that appeared in NASA’s air purification studies—Marginata, Massangeana (Corn Plant), Janet Craig, and Warneckii all showed excellent toxin removal. They remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene.
Air-Purifying Properties
Effective at removing a broad spectrum of VOCs including benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene (from dry cleaning, adhesives), and xylene. Different Dracaena species showed slightly different strengths, but all performed well in controlled studies.
Why It’s Effective
Dracaenas often grow quite tall with abundant foliage, providing substantial leaf surface area for air processing. They’re slow growers, which means they remain healthy with minimal care while still providing consistent air-cleaning benefits. The large leaves have significant surface area for gas exchange.
English Ivy
English Ivy showed impressive results in studies examining its ability to reduce airborne mold particles—important if you live in humid climates or have mold-prone areas. It also removes formaldehyde, benzene, and other VOCs effectively.
Air-Purifying Properties
Particularly effective at removing airborne mold spores and fecal particles (making it good for bathrooms). Also removes formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene. Studies showed it can reduce airborne mold levels by up to 78% in controlled environments.
Why It’s Effective
The abundant, small leaves provide huge collective surface area for air filtration. English Ivy grows vigorously, producing lots of foliage quickly. The dense growth habit means it processes substantial air volume. It’s also one of the few plants showing effectiveness against mold spores.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreens are excellent at removing benzene and formaldehyde, and their tolerance for low light makes them practical for many rooms. They’re also beautiful with their variegated foliage in greens, silvers, pinks, and reds.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes formaldehyde and benzene effectively. Some studies also showed effectiveness against carbon monoxide and other VOCs. The broad leaves provide good surface area for air processing despite the plant’s slow growth rate.
Why It’s Effective
Large, broad leaves mean substantial surface area for gas exchange. Chinese Evergreens remain healthy in less-than-ideal conditions (low light, average humidity), meaning consistent air-cleaning performance even in challenging spaces. Slow growth rate means minimal care required while still providing benefits.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums were the air-purifying all-stars in NASA’s study, removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene. They’re flowering plants, which makes them slightly higher maintenance than foliage plants, but their air-cleaning abilities are impressive.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes a broad spectrum of toxins: ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene. Showed the highest rates of toxin removal in NASA’s original study. The combination of flowers and foliage provides excellent air processing.
Why It’s Effective
Both the abundant foliage and the active flower production mean high metabolic activity and gas exchange. Chrysanthemums are fast growers when blooming, which means vigorous air processing. The challenge is keeping them blooming—they’re more temporary indoor plants.
Gerbera Daisies
These vibrant, cheerful flowers are not only beautiful but also effective at removing benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. They also release oxygen at night, making them beneficial for bedrooms. However, they’re challenging to keep long-term indoors.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes benzene (from tobacco smoke, synthetic fibers, plastics, detergents) and formaldehyde effectively. Also releases oxygen at night, which is unusual for flowering plants. The bright flowers and active growth mean high metabolic activity.
Why It’s Effective
The large, colorful flowers and abundant foliage provide substantial surface area for air processing. Active flowering means vigorous metabolism and gas exchange. The nighttime oxygen release is a bonus benefit similar to Snake Plants.
Lavender
Lavender isn’t from the NASA study, but it offers unique benefits: the aromatic oils have calming, stress-reducing properties (backed by research), and it does remove some VOCs from the air. The challenge is that lavender is notoriously difficult to grow indoors long-term.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes formaldehyde and benzene, though less effectively than some other plants on this list. The real benefit is the aromatic compounds (linalool and linalyl acetate) that reduce stress and improve sleep quality—well-documented in scientific studies. Stress reduction is a legitimate form of health improvement.
Why It’s Effective
The essential oils in lavender leaves and flowers have antimicrobial properties and create a calming environment. While its air-purifying abilities are modest compared to tropical foliage plants, the psychological and stress-reduction benefits are significant and scientifically validated.
Bamboo Palm
Also called the Reed Palm, this species performed well in NASA’s study for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. It’s one of the more manageable palms for indoor growing, though it does appreciate humidity.
Air-Purifying Properties
Removes formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene effectively. Also increases indoor humidity through transpiration, which can help with respiratory comfort. The abundant foliage provides substantial air-processing capacity.
Why It’s Effective
The feathery fronds provide large collective surface area for air filtration despite the relatively narrow individual leaves. Bamboo Palms grow moderately fast when conditions are right, meaning active metabolism and gas exchange. They also transpire significant moisture.