As all plant parents will know, having some flourishing greenery in your home is enough to make you smile.
But according to psychologists, having the right selection of indoor plants can actually boost your concentration and productivity by up to 15 percent.
While you probably already have an abundance of cheese plants and cacti, according to studies it's actually lesser known plants like St John's Wort which will relieve your anxiety and rosemary that can improve your memory.
UK gardening site Love The Garden has put together a list of some of the best houseplants to have in your home to improve your health and mood.
Peace Lily
This glossy tropical plant makes an Instagrammable addition to your living room and is relatively low-maintenance. The main potential benefit of having a peace lily in your home is that they are said to remove harmful toxins from the air, whilst also increasing humidity levels. This in turn promotes better breathing, relieving irritated throats and noses as a natural air freshener.
Snake Plant
This striking plant is native to tropical West Africa, and goes by a cheeky other name: mother-in-law’s tongue! Studies have shown that this plant emits oxygen whilst you sleep. The snake plant also removes harmful formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene from the air, improving your breathing for a better night’s rest. Snake plants are easy to care for – place in indirect sunlight and allow to dry out before watering infrequently
Dandelion
We often think of a dandelion as a pesky weed blighting our lawn. However, it is considered by botanists to be a herb, and for many years, people have been using it for medicinal reasons. It’s said to contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant which prevents cells from damage. Potential benefits stemming from dandelions include: lowering cholesterol, boosting the immune system, helping digestion and detoxifying the liver.You can brew the roots as a tea or use the leaves as a salad garnish. In Asian cooking, the leaves are used as lettuce – boiled, fried or made into a soup. Just make sure to thoroughly wash before you eat.
English Ivy
English ivy is an evergreen super-climber, able to climb to heights of 50 feet or more! But aside from looking impressive, this plant is said to purify airborne mould particles. It is also believed to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic properties. This in turn relaxes airways, treats asthma symptoms, loosens mucus and improves air quality. However, English ivy is poisonous so it should be kept high up, out of reach from children and pets. If you have asthma or difficulty breathing at night, place the English ivy high up in your bedroom. Touching ivy leaves can cause an allergic skin reaction, and you should avoid taking ivy extract if you are pregnant.
