It's one more reason to bring new plant babies home this spring, based on inspired findings from researchers in Spain.
You take care of your plants, giving them the best light or soil possible to thrive—but it turns out, they take care of us, too. Biology and chemistry researchers in Spain have actually discovered that a few species of plants may do a powerful job of cleaning the air you’re breathing indoors.
An April 2026 study published in the journal Atmospheric Environment has concluded that an active living wall—essentially a vertical arrangement of common houseplants—was able to reduce indoor air pollutants by up to 90% or more within 24 hours. Within just 15 minutes of pollutant exposure, the plants had already reduced toxic volatile organic compounds, called “VOCs,” by 24% to 40%.
Researchers at Spain’s University of Seville tested five plant species: peace lily, silver inch plant, heartleaf philodendron, creeping fig, and spider plant. Placing each inside a sealed glass chamber, the team introduced pollutants including formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). These are chemicals that show up in our lives in disturbingly practical ways—the kinds that off-gas from furniture, cleaning products, and building materials at home and in offices. They’re also linked to health risks, such as some types of cancer.
All five plant species performed well, but one standout was Spathiphyllum wallisii, commonly known as the peace lily, which showed particularly strong results in reducing nitrogen dioxide—and quickly. This is a widely available houseplant that typically retails somewhere between $20 and $40.
Crucially, the plants’ collective pollution-reducing capacity didn’t diminish over time, suggesting that a living wall could offer sustained air quality benefits—this wasn’t “one and done” effect. The five species studied also happen to be relatively low-maintenance, and widely sold at garden centers, speciality plant shops, and grocery stores.
While the study was conducted under controlled conditions, the findings add to a growing body of evidence that cohabitating with elements of nature can offer impressive health benefits. (One study in recent years showed that nearly all individuals who live to age 100 share a love of gardening.)
This also may go to show that if someone you care about is sick, gifting them with a plant isn’t just a gesture of thought—it may also help along their healing.
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