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10+ Houseplants With Surprising Health Benefits

Plants: they're good for you! Who knew?

Okay, alright, we all knew that. But did you know there are some houseplants that can genuinely help with your health? Whether it's physical or mental, plants can provide small but impactful health benefits. Also, they're pretty. There's no downside!

Another big plus? Most of these plants are great beginner plants!

Spider Plants.

Unsplash | Shiro Yamamoto

So, what does the spider plant do? Well, it can help remove formaldehyde from the air in your house! While it's no replacement for air quality detectors, you can rest easy knowing your easy-to-care-for plant is helping you out a little.

English Ivy.

Flickr | Thomas Cizauskas

Ready to have your mind blown? English Ivy has been proven to purify up to 94% of airborne mold allergens in your home. Better get one in your basement, ASAP.

Rosemary.

Unsplash | Vincent Foret

Some studies claim that the scent of rosemary can help with memory retention and concentration. I claim that adding it to fries with a bit of parmesan is next to godly.

Boston Fern.

Unsplash | Kelly Sikkema

Do you live in a humid climate, or somewhere that gets super humid in the summer? Good news: a Boston fern can actually help dehumidify your house, and help purify the air.

Golden Pothos.

Golden Pothos can remove toxins from the air. Most notably, they filter out trichloromethyl, which is in things like glue and paint. Brb, adding tons of these to my crafting area.

Bromeliads.

Unsplash | David Clode

Bromeliads will work for you 24/7. While most plants remove toxins during the day, Bromeliads work their butts off at night, too. They're top-tier air purifiers, and absolutely gorgeous to look at.

Rubber Plants.

You know who discovered how versatile rubber plants are? Frickin' NASA, that's who. How cool is that?

Their large leaves can absorb a large amount of toxins, including airborne bacteria and mold spores.

Peace Lily.

Unsplash | Mitchel Lensink

What can't a peace lily filter? This gorgeous flower can actually help filter out ammonia, benzene, xylene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from your home. Plus, it's gorgeous to look at! No downsides there.

Gerbera Daisies.

Back at it again with the NASA recommendations! They found that Gerbera daisies are the absolute best at removing benzene (a known carcinogen) from the air. They also help those with sleep apnea and insomnia!

Jasmine.

Unsplash | David Brooke Martin

Jasmine, like lavender, is gonna be there for you when it comes to your mental health. The scent is relaxing, helps relieves stress and anxiety, and can even help you sleep better.

Chrysanthemums.

Unsplash | Rebecca Matthews

So, here's the really cool thing about Chrysanthemums: they remove ammonia from the air! So, what I'm gonna do is put this near my cat's litter box and let it purify that air.

Bamboo palm.

Unsplash | katie manning

Good news: you now have the perfect excuse to buy a huge palm leaf tree for your house. Congrats! It removes benzene, formaldehyde, richloroethylene, and xylene from the air.

I am on my way to Home Depot.

Aloe Vera.

Instagram | @rapunzeis

I mean... duh. The inside of an aloe leaf can be scooped out and applied directly to irritated skin, especially if it's been sunburned. Nothing hits like aloe on a burned back, am I right?

Lavender.

Unsplash | Nicole Pearce

Alright, we all know what lavender does for you. It's the calming scent that gets added to every stress-relieving product out there, after all. It's also been shown to help people who suffer from insomnia.

Keeping these in your home can help you through some of your most stressful days.