People thrive in natural settings, which is why incorporating office plants has such a positive impact on wellness and workplace productivity. But selecting the right plants for your space is crucial if you’re going to maximize the benefits of biophilic design. This is why we’ve selected five of the best office plants that are both low-maintenance and beneficial for employee health and wellness:
Also known as a Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, the snake plant requires very little maintenance, which makes it especially appealing for busy workplaces. It’s not water intensive and can thrive in low-light areas. Moreover, the snake plant’s striking visuals, distinctively sharp and sword-like, immediately work to pull a space together.
Aside from these more obvious benefits, snake plants are especially adept at filtering common air pollutants, including formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. These toxins might sound like they belong in a lab, but research (like NASA’s Clean Air Study) reveals that they are more common in an office environment than we would like to admit. Luckily, plants like Sansevieria Trifasciata can mitigate the risk of these pollutants, helping you establish a cleaner and healthier work environment.
Notoriously hard to kill, the ZZ plant is another low-maintenance option perfect for offices that get little to no sunlight. ZZ plants thrive in almost any setting, even on infrequent water schedules. So, if you’re worried about keeping up with your plants’ watering needs amongst the chaos of corporate life, this is a perfect option.
Moreover, the ZZ plant’s deep green leaves boast a regal and stately image, inspiring a sense of balance and harmony. This particular shade of dark green is often used in color therapy to calm patients, encouraging stress reduction and mental clarity. So, if you’re looking to establish a calm and tranquil atmosphere that balances out the chaos of a busy office, opt for a ZZ plant variety.
Another low-maintenance office plant and versatile air purifier, the spider plant offers a different kind of aesthetic to a space, bringing movement and flow. Unlike the sharp, clean lines of a snake plant, or the moody dark green of a ZZ plant, the spider plant has variegated foliage that arches and cascades out of its container. It’s a playful plant that appears to fill a room but actually takes up less space than you would think (depending on placement). For instance, this species’ cascading foliage looks great in hanging baskets, which means you can add some greenery to a room without taking up valuable floor space.
However, the spider plant’s air purifying properties are most effective when there’s a group of them in a space. This is why we like to place them in communal areas (like lobbies or reception), adding movement and liveliness to a space that also appears neat, uniform, and intentional.
Living up to its name, the peace lily brings beauty and tranquillity to a space, serving as the ultimate desk companion that thrives best with consistency. This species’ elegant and understated foliage adds rich color and texture to a room. When a peace lily blossoms, the leaves slowly transform, growing lighter in color until white blooms emerge, bringing with them a light but pleasant fragrance.
Peace lilies are also low-maintenance and grow easily in low-light conditions, which makes them ideal for indoor use. Moreover, these plants are adept at removing common indoor pollutants, like acetone vapors and mold spores, which is particularly helpful for anyone who suffers from asthma or allergies. And, if your space is prone to high humidity (which can result in unwanted mildew), peace lilies can help counteract that issue too.
Another species that is notoriously hard to kill, golden pothos (also known as ‘Devil’s Ivy’) is one of the trendiest indoor plants today. London-based indoor plant specialist Freddie Blackett (of Patch Plants) even describes pothos as “the symbol of that indoor plant resurgence”, which sprouted in 2020 due to the pandemic.
As a direct result of people’s innate need to connect with nature, the sprawling nature of this plant appealed to young adults who were trapped indoors all day long. Pothos worked well to bring the outdoors in, which is why it remains a popular choice as an indoor office plant.
This species can flourish in various lighting conditions, even under fluorescent lights. It also has minimal watering requirements. Moreover, its cascading vines can serve as a natural divider in open-plan offices. This helps influence traffic flow and can be used to create semi-private spaces, which positively impacts workplace productivity.
The golden pothos is also another indoor plant species that removes common airborne pollutants. Improving the air quality in this way helps with brain fog, increases concentration and doubles down on productivity, improving employee health and wellness overall.
Beyond their obvious aesthetic appeal, interior plants are one of the best investments you can make to boost the general wellbeing of your staff. But selecting the right plants for your office can be a challenge. There are so many species to choose from, and balancing maintenance needs with an aesthetic idea can be tricky.
This is where Natura thrives. As experts in this industry, we’re in tune with what works well in each unique environment. We use our combined knowledge to align your needs with a tailored plant installation that best suits your space and budget, with the added benefit that indoor plants bring.
This is our list of the top 5 indoor plant species for office environments. But if given half the chance, we would add twenty more plant species to this list! We’re passionate about what we do, and we’d love to help you source the best plants that will meet the unique needs of your office space while also boosting the wellbeing of your employees.
Want to know more about our services? Contact us today to set up a consultation.
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