For years, I've heard that certain houseplants help keep indoor air clean by removing pollutants. Bill Wolverton, former NASA scientist, confirms this fact in his book How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office. In his book, Wolverton rates plants on four criteria: effectiveness in removing the three main indoor pollutants (formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide); ease of growing; resistance to insect and disease; and ability to transpire (release) moisture. Based on those criteria, the top three houseplants were Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa), Rubber plant (Ficus robusta), and English ivy (Hedera helix).
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