Creating a healthy home starts with what you put in it, and houseplants are a natural way to cleanse the air. These 20 allergy-friendly options not only beautify your space, they help filter out dust, mold spores, and common toxins. Let’s explore the plants that promote better breathing.
Table of Contents
- 20 Best Houseplants For Allergies
- Areca Palm
- Spider Plant
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
- Peace Lily
- Aloe Vera
- Bamboo Palm
- Dracaena
- Chinese Evergreen
- Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
- English Ivy
- Boston Fern
- Parlor Palm
- Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
- Golden Pothos
- Philodendron
- Calathea
- Peperomia
- Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
20 Best Houseplants For Allergies
Selecting houseplants that can ease allergy symptoms while enhancing indoor air quality is a practical choice. Many of these plants not only beautify your space but also have properties that make the air more breathable.
Areca Palm
The Areca Palm is favored for its air-purifying abilities. It helps to remove toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air. This plant keeps humidity levels balanced, which can be beneficial for reducing airborne allergens. It thrives in bright, indirect light and requires regular watering, making it a great option for living rooms or offices.
Spider Plant
Spider Plants are excellent at filtering pollutants like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. They are non-toxic, making them safe for homes with pets and children. This plant is easy to care for, needing moderate light and occasional watering. Its cascading green and white leaves make it a visually appealing option for hanging planters.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
The Snake Plant is one of the most efficient air-purifiers, known for its ability to absorb toxins such as nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde. It emits oxygen and moisture, reducing allergens in the air. This hardy plant prefers indirect sunlight and infrequent watering, making it ideal for beginners.
Peace Lily
Peace Lilies are effective at removing toxins like ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde. Their glossy leaves also help capture dust in the air. This plant thrives in low light and requires weekly watering, making it suitable for areas with limited sunlight.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is renowned for its soothing gel, which aids in treating skin irritations. This plant also purifies the air by removing formaldehyde. It requires bright light and minimal watering, making it perfect for a sunny kitchen or bathroom windowsill.
Bamboo Palm
The Bamboo Palm excels at filtering formaldehyde and benzene from the air, improving indoor air quality significantly. This lush plant prefers indirect light and regular watering. Its graceful fronds add a touch of elegance to any room.
Dracaena
Dracaena plants come in various varieties, all known for their air-cleaning properties. They efficiently remove pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. They require moderate light and regular watering. Their striking foliage makes them a great focal point.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreens are hardy plants that clean the air by filtering out toxins. They thrive in low to medium light conditions and are forgiving if watering is occasionally missed. The plant’s attractive variegated leaves make it a stylish addition to any home.
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
The Rubber Plant is excellent at removing harmful toxins from indoor air. It prefers bright, indirect light and requires moderate watering. Its broad, shiny leaves not only purify the air but also add a bold, architectural element to your décor.
English Ivy
English Ivy is effective in reducing airborne mold levels, which can contribute to allergy symptoms. It does best in bright, indirect light and likes to be kept slightly moist. Its trailing vines can be trained to cascade down shelves or climb walls, adding greenery to vertical spaces.
Boston Fern
The Boston Fern increases humidity and filters out formaldehyde and other pollutants. It prefers a cool environment with indirect sunlight and consistent moisture. This plant’s lush, arching fronds bring a classic elegance to any space, particularly porches and sunrooms.
Parlor Palm
Parlor Palms are known for their ability to filter out toxins from the air. They thrive in low light and require infrequent watering, making them easy to maintain. Their feathery, elegant leaves create a tropical feel, perfect for any living space.
Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Lady Palms excel at cleaning the air of toxic substances. They prefer indirect light and consistent watering. This plant’s attractive, fan-shaped leaves can enhance your home’s aesthetic while also improving the air quality.
Golden Pothos
Golden Pothos is particularly adept at removing indoor pollutants like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. It thrives in a variety of lighting conditions, from low light to indirect bright light, and requires infrequent watering. Its trailing vines make it a versatile choice for hanging baskets.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are robust plants that filter toxins from the air. They prefer indirect light and average humidity. Their heart-shaped leaves make them an attractive choice for adding lushness to any indoor garden setup.
Calathea
Calatheas are known for their vibrant, patterned leaves and air-purifying qualities. They flourish in indirect light with regular watering. This plant is appreciated for its striking foliage, which can enhance the visual appeal of any room while contributing to fresher air.
Peperomia
Peperomia plants are compact and perfect for small spaces. They filter toxins effectively and adapt to various light conditions. Requiring minimal water, they add a touch of greenery without being high maintenance, making them ideal for busy individuals.
Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Prayer Plants get their name from the way their leaves fold up at night. Known for their air-purifying properties, they do well in indirect light and require regular watering to keep their vibrant coloring. This plant offers both aesthetic and health benefits.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ Plants are hardy and require little care, effectively filtering toxins like xylene from the air. They thrive in low light and require minimal watering, making them well-suited to offices and residential spaces alike. Their glossy, dark green leaves provide a contemporary look.
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
The Cast Iron Plant is as durable as its name suggests and removes pollutants effectively. It tolerates low light and minimal watering. Its broad, lush leaves contribute to improved air quality and add a timeless charm to any interior setting.
