Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, making air-purifying houseplants a smart addition to Arizona homes. These natural air filters remove toxins while adding beauty and life to your desert dwelling.
Growing houseplants in Arizona’s dry climate can be rewarding when you choose varieties that thrive in our unique conditions.
1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Virtually indestructible, snake plants thrive in Arizona’s dry air and can survive weeks without water. Their tall, sword-like leaves actively filter formaldehyde and benzene from your home.
Place them in bedrooms since they release oxygen at night, unlike most plants. Native to West Africa’s arid regions, snake plants feel right at home in Arizona’s desert climate.
2. Aloe Vera
Beyond soothing sunburns, aloe vera plants excel at cleaning indoor air. Their thick, fleshy leaves store water, making them perfect for Arizona’s dry climate and forgetful waterers.
NASA studies show aloe removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air. As a bonus, when the plant displays brown spots, it’s warning you about harmful chemicals in your home.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Arching gracefully from hanging baskets, spider plants bring drama to Arizona homes while scrubbing the air of carbon monoxide and xylene. Their dangling babies (plantlets) make propagation a breeze.
Tough enough to handle Arizona’s dry air, these plants need minimal attention. Just a weekly watering and moderate light will keep them happy and multiplying.
4. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Elegant white blooms rise above glossy green foliage, making peace lilies both beautiful and functional air purifiers. They excel at removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
Peace lilies dramatically droop when thirsty, making them perfect indicators for watering schedules. In Arizona homes, they appreciate extra humidity, so mist them occasionally or place on a pebble tray with water.
5. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Lush and feathery, Boston ferns add a touch of woodland magic to Arizona homes. Their fronds actively remove formaldehyde and xylene while adding much-needed humidity to dry desert air.
Mist them regularly to combat Arizona’s arid conditions. Hanging them in bathrooms works wonderfully—they’ll thrive in the steam from your shower and purify the air simultaneously.
6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Sporting glossy, leathery leaves that seem almost artificial, rubber plants make bold statements in Arizona homes. Their thick leaves efficiently filter formaldehyde while requiring minimal care.
Originally from tropical regions, they’ve adapted well to indoor environments. Rubber plants grow tall with proper care, eventually becoming striking floor specimens that anchor room designs while quietly cleaning your air.
7. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Cascading vines with heart-shaped, variegated leaves make golden pothos a favorite for Arizona homes. Nearly impossible to kill, they thrive even with irregular watering and low light.
NASA ranks pothos among the best air-purifying plants, particularly for removing formaldehyde. Place them on high shelves or hanging planters and watch their vines create living curtains that actively clean your air.
8. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Patterned leaves in silver, green, and sometimes pink make Chinese evergreens as decorative as they are functional. These tropical beauties remove benzene and formaldehyde while tolerating Arizona’s low humidity.
Older plants produce interesting flowers similar to peace lilies. Chinese evergreens grow slowly and stay compact, making them perfect for coffee tables and desks where they’ll quietly clean your air for years.
9. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Feathery fronds atop slender stalks bring tropical vibes to Arizona homes. Bamboo palms excel at removing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from indoor air.
Unlike many palms, they tolerate Arizona’s dry conditions remarkably well. Growing 4-12 feet tall, bamboo palms make excellent room dividers or corner specimens, creating lush green zones that actively filter your air.
10. Dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
Spiky, architectural Dracaenas add dramatic vertical interest while filtering xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde. Their slender trunks topped with fountain-like foliage thrive in Arizona’s dry conditions.
Available in various sizes, from tabletop to floor specimens. Dracaenas grow slowly, requiring minimal maintenance—perfect for busy households wanting cleaner air without fussy plant care.
11. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Classic trailing vines of English ivy remove airborne fecal particles and filter formaldehyde, making them ideal for bathrooms. Their ability to reduce mold spores is particularly valuable in Arizona’s monsoon season.
Grow them in hanging baskets where their cascading vines create living curtains. Provide bright, indirect light and keep soil lightly moist for best results in Arizona’s dry climate.
12. Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Bringing cheerful blooms in vibrant colors, gerbera daisies aren’t just pretty faces. These flowering plants excel at removing benzene and trichloroethylene from your Arizona home.
NASA studies confirm their air-purifying abilities. Place them in sunny spots where their bright flowers can lift your mood while they clean your air. In Arizona’s climate, they’ll bloom repeatedly with proper care.
13. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Graceful, feathery fronds of areca palms bring tropical resort vibes to Arizona homes. These powerhouse purifiers remove formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene while adding significant humidity to dry indoor air.
Often called butterfly palms, they grow 6-7 feet tall indoors. Their multiple stems create a lush, airy screen that’s perfect for dividing spaces while actively filtering Arizona’s often dusty indoor air.
14. Philodendron
Heart-shaped leaves in various sizes and colors make philodendrons both versatile and effective air cleaners. They excel at removing formaldehyde from Arizona homes, particularly from new furniture and carpets.
Available in climbing or non-climbing varieties to suit any space. Philodendrons thrive in Arizona’s dry climate with minimal fuss, asking only for occasional watering and moderate light.
15. Ficus Tree (Ficus benjamina)
Towering ficus trees with glossy leaves make dramatic statements while purifying air in Arizona homes. Their large leaf surface area efficiently filters formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.
Native to tropical Asia, they’ve adapted well to indoor environments. Place them in bright spots away from drafts and cold windows. With proper care, a ficus becomes a living air purifier that grows more effective each year.
16. Janet Craig Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis)
Dark green, glossy leaves arranged in rosettes make Janet Craig dracaenas elegant additions to Arizona homes. NASA ranks them among the most effective plants for removing trichloroethylene, a chemical found in many household products.
Their compact growth makes them perfect for smaller spaces. Tolerant of low light and Arizona’s dry conditions, these plants purify your air with minimal maintenance requirements.
17. Flamingo Lily (Anthurium)
Glossy red flowers (actually modified leaves) make flamingo lilies showstoppers that also purify air. These tropical beauties remove ammonia, formaldehyde, and xylene while adding exotic flair to Arizona homes.
Native to rainforests, they appreciate extra humidity in Arizona’s dry climate. Mist them regularly or place on pebble trays with water. Their flowers last for weeks, providing long-lasting color while they clean your air.
18. Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
More tolerant of dry conditions than other ferns, Kimberly Queens are perfect for Arizona homes. Their upright, feathery fronds efficiently filter formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor air.
Unlike Boston ferns, they drop fewer leaves, making maintenance easier. Place them in bathrooms or kitchens where they’ll thrive in higher humidity while removing cooking fumes and chemical vapors.
19. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Glossy, dark green leaves arranged on arching stems make ZZ plants striking additions to Arizona homes. Nearly indestructible, they thrive with minimal water—perfect for desert dwellers and forgetful waterers.
ZZ plants remove xylene, toluene, and benzene from indoor air. Their waxy leaves store water, allowing them to survive Arizona’s dry conditions with ease. Place them in low-light areas where other plants struggle.
20. Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum)
Also known as devil’s ivy, money plants feature heart-shaped leaves sometimes variegated with yellow or white. NASA studies confirm they excel at removing formaldehyde from indoor air.
Nearly impossible to kill, they thrive in Arizona’s dry climate with minimal attention. Grow them in hanging baskets or train them up moss poles. Their trailing vines can reach 10 feet indoors, creating living curtains that actively purify your air.