The best indoor office plants to boost focus

Use plant power in your office to help up your productivity.

Indoor office plant

by Eleanor Weaver |
Updated on

Finding the best indoor office plants is no easy task. After all, our home offices can become a hub for mental fatigue thanks to the constant hum of technology, blue light, distractions from both home and work life, and the mundanity of the same four walls. All of which can wipe us out before the day is through. If you’re looking to rejuvenate your office to become a stimulating and more productive space, get yourself an indoor houseplant.

Perfect for popping on your desk, the windowsill, or a spare corner of your room, indoor office plants are a fab way to infuse a little life and colour into your space. They also provide a wealth of well-being benefits, all of which can improve your working-from-home environment. This is why plants for well-being seem to be growing in popularity.

Best indoor office plants at a glance

Easy to care for plant: Zamioculca Zamiifolia - View Offer on Amazon UK
Healing desk plant: Aloe Vera - View Offer at Bloombox Club
Sweet-smelling: Jasmine Plant - View Offer on Etsy

We’ve shared our pick of the best indoor office plants, most of which are easy-to-care-for plants to save you from any extra work. We've also shared all the perks you can expect to reap from your new plant babies. Unfortunately, some of these plants are known to be toxic to cats, dogs, and other pets. Please check each plant and its toxicity to your furry friend, before bringing one into your home. Now, prepare your windowsills and desks...

Best indoor office plants 2023

Best easy to care for plant

The hugely versatile Zamioculca Zamiifolia 'ZZ' Plant is a highly dependable houseplant that can tolerate a wide range of conditions - great for forgetful plant owners or anyone stuck with a low-light home office. Native to Central Africa, it has strong and structural tall stems and feathered, smooth, glossy leaves that'll stand out against any other houseplants you have. It's hardy, unique, and perfect for beginners.

Customer Review: "Having never ordered a plant online before, I was pleased with the overall quality of the shrub I received as I would have handpicked this one myself in a garden centre. The leaves were green with no dead leaves or imperfections whatsoever. Admittedly it was slightly smaller than expected but that’s not a problem as I get to see it grow to its full glory from small."

Pros

  • Can survive in low light
  • Requires little watering
  • perfect for beginners

Cons

  • May need to re-pot soon after delivery
  • Not pet-friendly
LightShade
WateringLight
Pet FriendlyNo
Air PurificationYes

Best office plant for air purification

Proven by NASA to be one of the best air-purifying plants, the Snake Plant works hard to absorb toxins and expels oxygen into your home, making the air you breathe cleaner. Its compact size makes it a great addition to a window sill or your desk and the simple, ornamental form with rippled striped leaves will help induce feelings of calm.
An added bonus is that the waxy leaf surface will attract dust, removing it from the air and making it a great plant for allergy sufferers. Talk about the perfect desk buddy!

Pros

  • Great for air purification
  • Easy to look after
  • Comes with a sturdy pot

Cons

  • No customer reviews
  • Not pet friendly
LightIndirect or Low-Light
WateringLight, Fortnightly
Pet-FriendlyNo
Air PurificationYes

Best healing desk plant

Aloe Vera is one of the best indoor office plants for skin health with its sap providing instant relief for a number of skin issues. It'll tolerate being forgotten, making it an exceptionally low-maintenance plant that's ideal for your office. It'll also filter benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide out from the air, proving its weight in gold for creating a healthy home-working atmosphere. Heads up - it requires lots of sun so make sure it's located near a sunny window.

Pros

  • Low maintenance succulent
  • Different sizes available
  • Air purifying and healing

Cons

  • Needs direct sunlight
  • No customer reviews
LightDirect Sun
WateringLight Watering
Pet-FriendlyNo
Air PurificationYes

Best pet-friendly office plant

The Calathea Ctenanthe Plant, or Prayer Plant, is a unique-looking plant with gorgeous fishbone markings on the leaves - it almost looks artificial! Native to the Brazilian rainforest, the Calathea has top air-purifying qualities and acts as a natural humidifier, keeping your office space fresh and free of toxins. The Calathea is also affected by circadian rhythms so it produces more oxygen at night - you can wake up, head to your computer, and feel ready to go surrounded by the best air possible.

Pros

  • Thrives in indirect sunlight
  • Pet-friendly office plant
  • Stunning, natural humidifier

Cons

  • Be careful not to overwater
LightIndirect Sunlight
WateringLight Watering, When Dry
Pet-FriendlyYes
Air PurificationYes

Best hanging office plant

The Devil's Ivy Plant (or Golden Pothos) grows leaves and vines with a beautiful cascading effect, making it perfect for office spaces with high shelves or a bookcase. It's known for having a high tolerance to low light conditions and has even been recognized by NASA for its air-purifying potential. The plant can remove indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, trichloroethene, toluene, xylene, and benzene, help reduce dust levels, and as a result of the cleaner air, help to improve concentration and productivity.

Customer Review: "Really great plant, using it as a hanging plant and is just starting to trail. Very versatile."

Pros

  • Thrives in indirect sunlight
  • Perfect for hanging up
  • Speedy and easy grower

Cons

  • You need to remember to water
LightIndirect Sunlight
WateringOnce a Week
Pet-FriendlyNo
Air PurificationYes

Best overall office plant

Succulents are notoriously easy to please and very low maintenance, making them indoor plant superheroes even for the most forgetful. Small enough to fit on your bookshelf or desk so it's always in view, the Jade Plant is a favourite of ours. Known as the money plant, this new friend is said to bring good fortune and prosperity so is often given as a housewarming gift. Jade plant is the perfect houseplant for beginner growers as it’s almost unkillable and requires very little care. Though it's not very pet-friendly, it requires very little watering.

Customer Review: "Extremely impressed, I had several questions which were all answered promptly and honestly helping with my decision. Could not be happier with my plant and pot, it suits the room we brought it for perfectly. We’re so happy!"

Pros

  • Requires very low maintenance
  • Great for gifting new homeowners
  • Almost unkillable - for beginners

Cons

  • Prone to overwatering
  • Not pet friendly
LightBright Spot
WateringVery Little
Pet-FriendlyNo
Air PurificationNo

Best sweet-smelling plant

The Jasmine Plant with its signature scent is believed to reduce stress and act as an anti-depressant. Aromatherapy expert, Beverly Hawkins, finds that due to the calming and sedative nature of its properties, jasmine is great for dispelling fear and uplifting your mood, ideal for even the longest or most stressful day in the office. The delicate white sweet-smelling blooms will help keep you feeling uplifted and relieved of anxieties, putting you in the best place possible for productivity, improved concentration, and focus.

Customer Review: "Lovely looking plants bought as presents, recipients extremely happy with them. Would definitely buy from seller again."

Pros

  • This plant has calming properties
  • Pretty, sweet-smelling addition
  • Straightforward maintenance

Cons

  • May not flower
  • Smaller than expected
LightSunny Spot
WateringWater Regularly, Moist
Pet-FriendlyYes
Air PurificationYes - and Odour

Best for houseplant enthusiasts

If you've got a bright but not sunny office, this elegant fern should be more than happy to keep you company. A Boston Fern is an easy plant to grow and requires only a little TLC. Ferns like it humid, so mist it with water every now and then. With its bright and bountiful green leaves, the Boston Fern also provides air purification and has been said to add Feng Shui to a room as a symbol of wisdom and happiness. Bringing in good energy, improved well-being, and positive vibes is an excellent recipe for a great working-from-home environment.

Customer Review: "Plants are lovely and pots are beautiful customer service is great, one pot was forgotten in the delivery, and a quick email later it was all sorted and the pot was sent out within a day. Very happy."

Pros

  • Provides air purification
  • A symbol of good energy
  • Pet and child friendly

Cons

  • Needs a little more TLC
LightIndirect
WateringMoist Soil, Humid
Pet-FriendlyYes
Air PurificationYes

Best statement plant

This is a fantastic statement indoor plant for your home office, and not too hard to care for either. Originating from South America, this plant is used to warm surroundings and with the lush green being akin to that of the rainforest, it'll help purify the air while being amazingly eye-catching. As well as purification, the huge, signature leaves, of the Swiss Cheese Plant increase humidity in the room as part of their photosynthesis. This will prove particularly helpful if you struggle to work or focus whilst managing conditions that are affected by dry air.

Customer Review: "Beautiful plant, easy company to deal with. Highly recommend Bloombox."

Pros

  • Purifies the air in your home
  • Relatively easy to care for
  • Looks great for any home

Cons

  • Grows fast if well looked after
  • Will burn in direct sunlight
LightIndirect, Semi-Shaded
WateringLight, Moist
Pet-FriendlyNo
Air PurificationYes

Best beautiful desk plant

We love the striking Peace Lily and, trust us, they are hard to kill! Look after them just a little and you'll be rewarded with white flowers amongst their dark green foliage. Not only that, but they are powerful plants that work to purify the air in your home environment making them a great all-rounder. After all, air pollutants can disrupt your clarity and affect the way that you think. Working in an office clear of these toxins will have a great impact on your focus. With clear air comes a clear mind!

Customer Review: "I recently ordered some plants from BloomBox UK and I was so impressed with the quality and care taken in packaging and delivering the plants. The website was really easy to use and the plants arrived in perfect condition, with helpful advice on how to care for them. The plants look great in my garden and I am so happy with the service I received from BloomBox UK. Highly recommended!"

Pros

  • Droops when thirsty
  • Purifies air in your home
  • Super low maintenance

Cons

  • Not pet friendly
LightIndirect Light
WateringDroops When Thirsty
Pet-FriendlyNo
Air PurificationYes

Best easy-to-propagate office plant

If you’re someone that can’t seem to keep a plant alive for very long, try a Spider Plant. One of the easiest plants to look after, it can thrive in almost any home environment. According to NASA, the Spider Plant clears the air of both xylene and formaldehyde so you can breathe easily with this little companion. Plus, Spider Plants are nice and easy to propagate (or make new plants from), which can be snipped off and replanted. With the addition of a Spider Plant, your workspace can flourish with nature and should feel clearer and less stuffy.

Customer Review: "When we wanted some advice about the right plants for our office space, Oxy-Plants were the obvious choice. There was lots of useful information on the website, and the customer service was second to none. When we had a problem, they fixed it, quickly and efficiently. We love the plants and love the prices - delivery was easy and the plants well packaged."

Pros

  • Easy to propagate
  • Very little maintenance
  • Great for air purifying

Cons

  • Not pet friendly
LightPartial Shade, Some Direct
WateringWater Once or Twice a Month
Pet-FriendlyNo
Air PurificationYes

FAQs

Are plants beneficial in an office?

Oh yes! As we go about most of our days answering emails and staring at a screen, having indoor office plants helps to bring the benefits of nature indoors. As well as providing us with something pretty to look at, there are many benefits to draw from indoor office plants; multiple studies have proven their ability to increase concentration and uplift spirits when working.
Get your plant misters ready...
Indoor plants in your office can:
Help maintain respiratory health and minimise headaches
Lower stress and anxiety
Boost recovery and healing
Enhance concentration and productivity
Improved mood and reduced fatigue
Working with plants can be therapeutic and being closer to nature is kind for your mind!
Read more about these studies conducted by NASA and Washington State University below.

Office with plants
©Getty Images

The benefits of indoor office plants: The studies

NASA discovered just how beneficial houseplants were for absorbing harmful toxins in their Plants for Indoor Air Pollution study. Especially in enclosed spaces with little airflow. This extensive research highlighted the best species for air purification that can remove nasties from the air. This includes ammonia, xylene, and benzene.

You might not think the average home could contain these chemicals. But when you take into account cleaning products and decorating equipment, there are more out there than you’d imagine. These toxins can all result in headaches and eye irritation - even more, reason to green up your home or office.

You’ll also be lowering your stress levels with indoor office plants. A study from Washington found that people’s blood pressure was lowered, and attention increased when there were plants in the room. You’ll be creating an area you actually want to work in with a cost-effective way to boost your mood, focus, and overall well-being.

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Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Modern Gardens, specialising in outdoor furniture, décor, and tools. She's always looking out for inspiration online for stylish and affordable designs and enjoys spending time in nature.

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