Do Houseplants Really Purify the Air? An Expert Finally Settles the Debate

by | Jan 29, 2025 | Decor & Design | 0 comments

A plant expert sheds light on the trend of air purifying houseplants.

By: Cori Sears

houseplants on side table
Photo: Marty Baldwin

Houseplants, green spaces, and biophilic design have been trending for some time now, so it’s no surprise that air-purifying plants are of abundant interest. According to Pinterest’s 2024 Fall Trend Report, the term “air purifying plants” saw an 850% increase in search volume on the platform compared to the same time last year.

The idea of plants having purifying powers comes from the 1989 Clean Air Study conducted by NASA, which found that certain plants removed health-harming pollutants from indoor environments. But before you rush off to replace your air purifier with a few houseplants, more recent research has revealed that the issue is a little more complex than it first appeared. So can our indoor greenery really purify the air effectively. We asked a horticulturist specializing in houseplants to settle the question, once and for all.

MEET THE EXPERT

Justin Hancock is a horticulturist and houseplant expert at Costa Farms.

NASA’s Clean Air Study

In the late 1980s, NASA conducted a study on ways to improve air quality in sealed environments (such as space stations—go figure).1 It found that plants enhance indoor air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen during photosynthesis.

The findings also suggested that some houseplants could effectively remove volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the air (such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene) and were therefore deemed “air purifying.” Plants involved in the study include:

Since its publication, there’s been a certain fascination with the concept of air-purifying plants and the potential benefits they can have on indoor air quality. However, it’s important to note that the study’s initial results only apply to sealed indoor environments—aka not your typical buildings where indoor-to-outdoor air exchange occurs (through doors, windows, and HVAC systems). As a result, experts caution that you shouldn’t necessarily apply the study’s findings to your own life.

Shelves with potted houseplants
Photo: Bob Stefko

The Verdict on Air-Purifying Plants

Here’s your short and simple answer: Plants technically can remove pollutants from the air, but you probably won’t notice a significant difference in your home’s air quality unless you have a lot of them, says Justin Hancock, a horticulturist with Costa Farms.

“We don’t live in sealed chambers—no matter how energy efficient our homes and offices are—and in real-life environments, the natural movement of air means any VOCs present are being distributed through the building and potentially being constantly released,” he explains. “So, while houseplants are able to pull pollutants from the air, the amount an individual plant removes is negligible.”

That said, there are still plenty of other good reasons to add houseplants to your indoor space.  

Benefits of Adding Houseplants to Your Home

Houseplants may not be the key to purifying the air in your home, but bringing them into your space can provide a wealth of other benefits, Hancock says. Scientific research conclusively proves they provide the following perks:

Reducing stress and anxiety: There’s a reason you probably feel calmer and more at peace when you’re spending time outdoors—and as it turns out, you can replicate that feeling by bringing the outdoors in with houseplants. Hancock references a study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology that showed having houseplants can reduce physical and psychological stress.2

Boosting your mood: Similarly, adding houseplants to the home has been shown to positively impact overall mood—and not just because of the gorgeous greenery.

“Naturally occurring microorganisms in the soil release chemicals that boost endorphin and serotonin levels, making us feel happier,” Hancock says. Also, houseplants can help spaces feel more comfortable and put together, which can naturally put you more at ease.

Keeping you physically healthy: Studies have also demonstrated that houseplants can have positive impacts on our physical health. According to several Scandinavian studies, “having houseplants in an office environment can reduce physical symptoms like headaches, coughing, and sore throats,” Hancock says. The same studies even found that offices with more plants had fewer employee sick days.

Making you smarter: Research shows having houseplants can boost creativity, problem-solving skills, memory, concentration, and overall productivity—and the more inspired you are to use your brain in new ways, the more likely you are to do so.

Improving self-esteem: There’s nothing quite like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with successfully keeping a houseplant alive.

“Since houseplants depend entirely on us for their care, successfully cultivating a houseplant can help us feel better about ourselves,” Hancock says.

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