Let's talk about the NASA study.
90% of plant blogs mention it — "according to NASA scientists…" or "a study commissioned by NASA found…" — and it's not wrong, exactly. It's just easy to take out of context.
In the late 1980s, NASA looked at the ability of houseplants to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. VOCs are emitted by everyday household products — paint, cleaning sprays, synthetic fabrics — and can have a range of effects on indoor air quality. The study concluded that plants showed promise as a natural, economical approach to indoor air pollution.
The catch: it was a laboratory study. Sealed chambers, controlled conditions, no open windows, no foot traffic, no real home variables. Our homes are a different kettle of fish entirely. Later reviews have made the same point — results from sealed test chambers don't translate neatly into real indoor environments.
Plant Life Balance, drawing on research supported by Hort Innovation, suggests plant numbers matter. In other words: one plant in the corner won't transform a room, but a decent amount of foliage may contribute to a space that feels fresher, calmer and more liveable.
The honest answer: plants can remove some VOCs in controlled conditions, but the effect in a real home is much more modest than the NASA study implied. The better reason to have plants is that they make your home more liveable — and some of the best species for indoor air quality also happen to be excellent plants to grow at home.
Here are ten worth having.
1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria spp.)
Snake Plants are often recommended for bedrooms because they're tough, sculptural and tolerant of lower light. You'll also see them mentioned for nighttime gas exchange, but in a real bedroom the effect is tiny — choose them because they're brilliant indoor plants, not because they'll oxygenate the room.
They'll tolerate low light and direct sun, though they prefer bright indirect light. Water only when the potting mix is completely dry — every 2–3 weeks during active growth, even less in winter. One of the most forgiving plants on this list. Read our guide here
2. Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)
The tolerant, classy cousin to the fussy Fiddle Leaf Fig. Rubber Plants come in a range of colours — ruby, burgundy, deep green, speckled yellow — and their glossy foliage nearly always looks good. They've also performed well in controlled air-quality studies, which is why they often appear on these lists.
Happy in bright, filtered light. Water when the top few centimetres of potting mix is dry. Feed every two weeks during active growth with a complete liquid fertiliser. Wipe leaves down with neem oil regularly to keep them dust-free and photosynthesising efficiently.
3. Flamingo Lily (Anthurium andraeanum)
We've covered our aroid obsession elsewhere on the blog but the Flamingo Lily earns its place here too. Grown for their gorgeous waxy bracts (the colourful modified leaf around the flower spike), they bring a pop of colour that most foliage plants can't.
Anthuriums like bright indirect light and humid conditions. Keep the potting mix slightly moist — not wet, not bone dry. Water when the top 2–3cm feels dry and don't let them sit in soggy mix.
4. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
When it comes to air quality, leaf surface area matters — more leaf means more plant doing more work. The Bamboo Palm delivers on that front. Growing up to 3.5m and able to handle a touch of direct sun (though bright filtered light is preferred), it's a genuine statement plant that also pulls its weight.
Likes well-draining potting mix. Water when the top few centimetres dry out and prune brown leaves occasionally to keep it looking sharp.
5. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
One for anyone who's killed a few plants along the way. Spider Plants survive full sun, part shade and cold temperatures without complaint. They trail beautifully, produce baby "spiders" that spill over the edge of planters and can be propagated easily — making them one of the most rewarding plants to have in a collection.
Water regularly during active growth and feed every two weeks through spring and summer.
6. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
Peace Lilies are one of the few flowering indoor plants that genuinely perform in lower-light positions — and they're consistently cited as strong performers in indoor air quality studies. Great for plant newcomers, forgiving on the care front and one of the only plants on this list that'll tell you exactly when it's thirsty (dramatic drooping, then a full recovery after watering).
They prefer bright indirect light but tolerate shade well. Keep the mix slightly moist and avoid dry air — grouping with other plants helps maintain humidity. Feed every two weeks during active growth. Read our Peace Lily guide here
7. Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Devil's Ivy has made yet another list — and for good reason. Cascading tendrils, near indestructible, tolerant of low light and bright indirect light alike. It's the plant that somehow thrives no matter what you throw at it (bar direct sunlight).
Water when the top few centimetres of potting mix is dry. Feed every two weeks during active growth. Let it trail, climb a totem or grow along a shelf — it adapts to wherever you put it.
8. Draceana (Dracaena spp.)
Love them or find them polarising — Dracaenas have made the list. Their architectural habit and gnarly woody stems aren't for everyone, but for the right space they're striking. They appear regularly in air quality research and handle a range of indoor conditions well.
Thrive in medium to bright indirect light. Water when the surface of the potting mix is dry and reduce watering over winter — they're susceptible to root rot if kept too wet.
9. Aloe Vera (Aloe spp.)
Aloe aloe! Can't let a good pun go by.
Aloe is a practical plant to have around — it tolerates neglect and handles direct sunlight better than most indoor plants. It's appeared in air quality studies and performs well on a sunny windowsill. The gel inside the leaves is part of why Aloe has been kept on sunny windowsills for generations.
Keep in bright light, direct sunlight is fine, and water only when the potting mix has dried out completely. These are succulents at heart — err on the dry side.
10. Lady Palm (Raphis excelsa)
An underrated choice for cooler rooms — Lady Palms prefer temperatures around 15–20°C and handle the lower end of indoor light better than most palms. Slow-growing and elegant, they reward patience with a genuinely beautiful architectural form.
Prefer indirect light and slightly moist mix. Because of their slow growth rate they're sensitive to fertiliser — feed at half strength and only during the warmer months.
The bottom line on air purifying plants
Plants can play a small part in a healthier-feeling indoor environment — but the effect in a real home is more modest than the headlines suggest. The better argument for having them is everything else: they make spaces more liveable, they give you something to care for, and the plants on this list happen to be some of the best indoor species you can grow.
Get enough of them in a room and the air quality benefits start to stack up too. Which, if you're reading a plant blog, probably isn't the worst excuse to add a few more.
Additional Reading
What potting mix is right for my indoor plants
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