Our Guide to Air Purifying Plants
The plants that quietly clean your air, lift your mood, and make your home feel like a sanctuary.
There is something deeply satisfying about walking into a room and taking a breath that just feels cleaner. Fresher. Calmer. If you have ever stood in a plant-filled space and noticed that shift, you were not imagining it. Indoor plants genuinely improve the air you breathe.
At Gro Urban Oasis, plants are at the heart of how we think about home. They are not just decorative. They are living, breathing companions that filter toxins, release oxygen and quietly transform your indoor environment into something that feels closer to nature, even in the middle of a city apartment.
This is our guide to air purifying plants: the ones we love, the ones we stock, and everything you need to know about choosing, placing and caring for the best houseplants for indoor air quality.
What Makes a Plant "Air Purifying"?
The idea that houseplants clean indoor air gained mainstream attention through NASA's landmark Clean Air Study in the late 1980s. Researchers found that certain plants are good for cleaning the air by absorbing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene and ammonia through their leaves and root systems.
These toxins are more common in your home than you might think. They are released by furniture, paint, cleaning products, synthetic fabrics and even the adhesives used in flooring.
Benefits of Air Purifying Plants
- Toxin absorption — Leaves and roots absorb harmful VOCs, breaking them down into harmless compounds
- Oxygen production — Through photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into fresh oxygen, particularly at night for certain species like the Snake Plant
- Humidity regulation — Plants release moisture through transpiration, balancing dry indoor air (especially useful in air-conditioned spaces)
- Stress reduction — Studies consistently show that greenery lowers cortisol levels and supports mental wellbeing
In short, choosing air purifying indoor plants is one of the simplest things you can do to make your home healthier and more comfortable.
How to Keep Indoor Air Clean with Plants
If you are wondering how to keep indoor air clean, the answer is simpler than you might expect. You do not need a jungle. A well-chosen handful of air purifying house plants, placed thoughtfully around your home, does real work.
- Aim for one plant per 10 square metres as a general starting point. A two-bedroom apartment benefits from 5 to 8 plants spread across rooms.
- Prioritise the rooms you spend the most time in: bedrooms, living areas and home offices.
- Mix species. Different plants target different toxins. A combination of trailing, upright and broad-leafed varieties gives you the widest coverage.
- Keep leaves clean. Dust blocks the pores (stomata) that plants use to absorb gases. A gentle wipe with a damp cloth once a fortnight keeps them working efficiently.
- Healthy plants filter best. Proper light, watering and drainage matter. A stressed plant does not purify as well as a thriving one.
Where to Place Air Purifying Plants in the House
Knowing where to place air purifying plants in the house makes a real difference to both their performance and your enjoyment of them.
Living Room
Go for a statement Fiddle Leaf or Monstera as a focal point, then layer in smaller varieties like Pothos on shelving.
Bedroom
Choose plants that release oxygen at night. The Snake Plant is the classic pick: it continues converting CO2 after dark.
Bathroom
High-humidity spaces suit tropical species. A Syngonium Pixie thrives in warm, steamy air and filters bathroom chemicals.
Home Office
Eye-level greenery reduces screen fatigue. Trailing Pothos on a high shelf or a Zanzibar Zenzi on your desk.
Kitchen
A hotspot for airborne chemicals. A Rubber Plant or Happy Plant beside the bench adds greenery and works hard.
Entryway
A welcoming first impression. A tall Fiddle Leaf Ficus in a curated pot sets the tone for your entire home.
The Best Air Purifying Plants (and We Stock Every One)
Here is our curated selection of the best air purifying plants you will find at Gro Urban Oasis. Each one has been chosen for its filtration ability, its beauty, and its compatibility with real indoor-living conditions.
Snake Plant
If there is one plant that answers the question "are snake plants good air purifying?" it is this one. NASA ranked it among the top performers for removing formaldehyde, benzene, xylene and toluene. What truly sets the snake plant as air purifier apart is its ability to release oxygen at night, making it the perfect bedroom companion. It is also virtually indestructible: low light, irregular watering, dry air.
Shop Snake PlantWhy the Snake Plant is the ultimate air purifier: removes formaldehyde, benzene, xylene and toluene. One of the few plants that releases oxygen at night. Thrives in low light and tolerates neglect. Compact enough for bedside tables, windowsills and shelving. If you are new to snake plant air purifying benefits, this is the one to begin with.
Golden Pothos and Devil's Ivy
The Pothos family (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most effective and forgiving groups of plants that clean air. Golden Pothos is a powerhouse at absorbing formaldehyde, xylene and benzene. All three trail beautifully from shelves, hanging planters and high surfaces.
Golden Pothos and Epipremnum Aureum are actually the same species. The difference in our range is pot size: the Golden Pothos comes in a 200mm pot with more established trailing growth, while the 130mm is a younger plant perfect for propagating or tucking into smaller spaces. Jade Devil's Ivy is a variety with deeper, jewel-toned green leaves. Same air filtration, different aesthetic.
Golden Pothos
200mm pot
$47.98
Best for beginners
Jade Devil's Ivy Pothos
130mm pot
$14.98
Great value
Epipremnum Aureum
130mm pot
$26.98
Easy to propagate
Monstera Deliciosa (Fruit Salad Plant)
One of the most recognisable air purifying indoor plants on the planet. Those dramatic, fenestrated leaves are not just for show: their broad surface area makes them highly effective at absorbing airborne toxins and producing oxygen. The Monstera is also a natural humidifier, releasing moisture that helps balance dry indoor environments.
Shop MonsteraMonstera Thai Constellation
Each leaf carries unique cream-and-green marbling that looks like splattered paint, and no two plants are identical. It shares the Monstera's air purifying qualities but brings an entirely different visual presence: quieter, more refined, gallery-worthy. Because the variegation reduces chlorophyll, it grows more slowly and benefits from slightly brighter indirect light.
Shop Thai ConstellationFiddle Leaf Ficus
The Fiddle Leaf Ficus has been the darling of interior design for good reason. Its large, violin-shaped leaves are spectacular, and they do serious air purifying work by filtering formaldehyde. We carry three sizes: the 200mm is ideal for a tabletop; the 300mm makes a beautiful floor plant; and larger sizes are true statement trees.
The Rubber Plant Family
The Rubber Plant family deserves its own section because these are some of the hardest-working plants for air cleaning you can bring home. The Ficus Indian Rubber Tree features deep, glossy, almost-black leaves that absorb formaldehyde and carbon dioxide efficiently. It grows quickly in the right conditions and can eventually become a striking indoor tree.
Indian Rubber Tree
130mm pot
$22.98
Affordable entry
Indian Rubber Tree
200mm pot
$48.98
Well established
More Air Purifying Favourites
Happy Plant
Dracaena Fragrans · 200mm
$69.98
Low light champion
Zanzibar Zenzi
ZZ Plant · 140mm
$59.98
Nearly indestructible
Syngonium Pixie
130mm pot
$22.98
Compact & tropical
Hoya Wax Flower Hanging
200mm pot
$39.98
Fragrant blooms
The Happy Plant (Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana) is a NASA standout for removing formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. It thrives in low to moderate light and tolerates dry air.
The Zanzibar Zenzi is genuinely hard to kill. It stores water in its rhizomes, tolerates drought and low light, and absorbs xylene, toluene and benzene. Its compact, curled leaves give it a sculptural, almost bonsai-like quality.
The Syngonium Pixie is a compact tropical gem whose arrowhead-shaped leaves filter xylene and formaldehyde. At $22.98, it is one of the most accessible ways to start building your air purifying plant collection.
The Hoya Wax Flower adds something unique: fragrant, star-shaped blooms. Those clusters of waxy flowers appear multiple times a year, making it as much a sensory experience as an air purifying one. Its glossy, succulent-like leaves require very little watering.
The Toxins Your Plants Are Filtering
Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene and toluene are volatile organic compounds (VOCs): invisible gases released by everyday household materials. Here is what each one is and why it matters that your plants remove it.
Formaldehyde
A WHO-classified carcinogen and the most common indoor VOC. Released by flat-pack furniture, MDF cabinets, laminate flooring, carpet glue, cleaning products and gas stoves. It off-gases for months after installation, causing eye and throat irritation, headaches and worsened asthma. Recently renovated or furnished a room? Your formaldehyde levels are almost certainly elevated.
Benzene
A Group 1 carcinogen found in paints, detergents, glues, tobacco smoke, garage exhaust and some scented candles. Benzene affects the blood and bone marrow: chronic low-level exposure is linked to anaemia and an increased risk of leukaemia. Indoor concentrations are consistently higher than outdoor ones because it accumulates in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces.
Xylene
The chemical smell that lingers after painting. A solvent used in paints, wood stains, varnishes, markers and sealants. Xylene is a central nervous system depressant: even at everyday levels it can cause headaches, dizziness and difficulty concentrating. Anyone who has recently painted, stained furniture or moved into a new build is living with elevated xylene.
Toluene
Found in nail polish, paint thinner, hair dye, shoe polish, stain removers and synthetic carpets. Toluene evaporates readily at room temperature, causing fatigue, headaches and memory difficulties even at low concentrations. Prolonged exposure affects the kidneys and liver.
Every one of these chemicals is actively absorbed and broken down by the plants in this guide. They draw VOCs in through their leaf pores, metabolise them, and convert them into harmless compounds. You cannot eliminate every source, but you can add a living filtration system that works 24 hours a day and looks beautiful doing it.
Quick Reference: Our Air Purifying Collection
| Plant | Size | Price | Light | Key Toxins Removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snake Plant | 200mm | $73.98 | Low to bright indirect | Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene |
| Golden Pothos | 200mm | $47.98 | Low to bright indirect | Formaldehyde, xylene, benzene |
| Jade Devil's Ivy | 130mm | $14.98 | Low to bright indirect | Formaldehyde, xylene, benzene |
| Monstera Deliciosa | 240mm | $71.98 | Bright indirect | General VOCs, CO2 |
| Monstera Deliciosa | 300mm | $166.00 | Bright indirect | General VOCs, CO2 |
| Thai Constellation | 120mm | $49.98 | Bright indirect | General VOCs, CO2 |
| Fiddle Leaf Ficus | 200mm | $54.98 | Bright indirect | Formaldehyde |
| Fiddle Leaf Ficus | 300mm | $169.00 | Bright indirect | Formaldehyde |
| Indian Rubber Tree | 130mm | $22.98 | Moderate to bright | Formaldehyde, CO2 |
| Indian Rubber Tree | 200mm | $48.98 | Moderate to bright | Formaldehyde, CO2 |
| Happy Plant | 200mm | $69.98 | Low to moderate | Formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene |
| Zanzibar Zenzi | 140mm | $59.98 | Low to moderate | Xylene, toluene, benzene |
| Syngonium Pixie | 130mm | $22.98 | Bright indirect | Xylene, formaldehyde |
| Hoya Wax Flower | 200mm | $39.98 | Bright indirect | General VOCs |
Ready to Breathe Easier?
Every plant in this guide is available at Gro Urban Oasis, both in-store at our Macquarie Park and Miranda locations and online for delivery across the Sydney Metro area.
Shop Air Purifying Plants