Back in 1989, Nasa scientists discovered that some plants can purify the air in enclosed spaces.
In other words, you can get a beautiful houseplant to decorate your living room, and it’ll absorb the harmful toxins in the air that result from cleaning detergents and cigarettes smoke. So, it’s a win-win!
But do all houseplants purify the air? No, only a few do, and some plants are better than others. For example, golden pothos and spider plants are known for their air purification qualities.
What about yucca? Are yucca plants good for air purification? That’s what we’ll explore here!
Are Yucca Plants Good For Air Purification?
Yucca plants have air purification qualities, but the question of whether they’re good depends on where you intend to put them.
They can purify the air to some extent, but they’re not on the list of the best air-purifying plants, so they’re mostly only suitable for places with sufficient airflow and low levels of pollutants.
These plants purify the air by increasing oxygen levels and eliminating toxins and carbon content. A spider plant does the same, but much more efficiently.
If you’re buying a plant solely for air purification, you’ll want to explore your other options.
On the other hand, if you’re buying a yucca plant to decorate your living room or to satisfy your love for plants, you’ll get air purification as a bonus!
What Are Yucca Plants Good For?
It’s true that yucca plants aren’t the best air purifiers out there. However, they’re still good houseplants for plenty of reasons.
For example, the flowers and fruits of yucca plants are known for being nutritious. In fact, all of the plant’s parts can be used as food except for the root.
Despite that, the root is still known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and it has a high content of vitamins B and C.
Aside from its use as food, some variants of yucca can be used to make beauty products and soaps, like yucca elata.
Another reason yucca plants are favored by many is that they’re easy to take care of. They don’t require much attention, so they’re excellent houseplants for busy folks. They’re also drought-tolerant, which is a bonus.
Are Yucca Plants Right for You?
Before you go and buy a yucca plant for your house, you may want to explore if it’s a good choice for you.
It’s easy to take care of, and it doesn’t require much water, so it’s often a suitable choice for busy people and homeowners who tend to spend days away from their houses.
However, yucca plants aren’t safe for pets; some parts of them are poisonous, especially for cats and dogs. So, if you’re getting a plant, you’ll have to make sure to place it away from where your pet usually is.
Knowing how unpredictable house pets can be, that’s not always a good idea!
Generally, yuccas are perfect houseplants for people living in hot and dry areas. They may not be excellent air purifiers, but they’re easy to take care of and grow, and they look lovely.
Other Plants That Are Good for Air Purification
If you’ve decided that yucca isn’t the best option for you, you can consider some other air-purifying plants. Here’s a roundup of some of the best plants for air purification:
Peace Lilies
When Nasa scientists discovered that some houseplants can purify the air, they also found out that peace lilies are on top of the list. They can absorb pollutants and toxins from the air, including ammonia, benzene, and even formaldehyde.
These toxins get absorbed through the leaves, then they make their way to the roots where they’re broken down by soil microbes.
Rubber Plants
Rubber plants have a distinctive name thanks to the milky white latex running in their leaves’ variegation. It can be extracted and used for making rubber, hence the name.
But making rubber isn’t the only quality that this plant has. It’s also an excellent air purifier. Like peace lilies, a rubber plant can remove some toxins from the air, including formaldehyde, which is a common factor in cleaning detergents.
Aside from absorbing toxins, rubber plants also produce more oxygen than your average plant, making them a good option for enclosed spaces and polluted areas.
Golden Pothos
Golden pothos, otherwise known as devil’s ivy, is a common houseplant best known for its leafy appearance and adaptability. What most people don’t know is that this plant can also purify the air.
In fact, it’s classified as one of the best houseplants for air purification because it can eliminate benzene, xylene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde from the air.
Spider Plants
Spider plants are popular among plant enthusiasts because they grow downward. That’s why they’re often planted in hanging baskets and used for workspaces and coffee shops.
On top of that, they’re highly adaptable and easy to grow, so they’re suitable choices for busy homeowners.
Aside from all these benefits, spider plants can purify the air by removing xylene and formaldehyde, often found in cleaning detergents and paint cans.
Final Thoughts
So, are yucca plants good for air purification? Not so much. They purify the air to some extent, but we wouldn’t say they’re good at it.
Despite that, they have other qualities that make them worth having, such as their edible fruits and their low maintenance.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.