New York apartments can feel stuffy, but a few indoor plants can freshen the air faster than you’d expect. I’ve found that having the right green friends around not only brightens the space but also keeps it feeling clean and lively.
Watching these plants work their magic while I go about my day is surprisingly satisfying. From leafy giants to compact powerhouses, they tackle pollutants with style.
With the fastest air-purifying plants in New York, your home can feel fresher and more inviting in no time.
1. Snake Plant
Even at night, these tough beauties keep working to clean your air. New Yorkers love them because they thrive despite irregular watering and low light conditions typical in city apartments.
Their sword-like leaves add architectural interest while removing formaldehyde and benzene from your air. Perfect for busy Manhattan professionals who can’t commit to high-maintenance greenery.
2. Peace Lily
Graceful white blooms make this plant as beautiful as it is functional. The peace lily excels at removing common household chemicals while adding a touch of elegance to Brooklyn brownstones.
Just watch for drooping leaves – that’s your signal to water. Many New York plant enthusiasts appreciate how clearly this plant communicates its needs, making it ideal for beginners.
3. Spider Plant
Hanging from macramé holders in Queens apartments, these plants work overtime cleaning indoor air. Their arching leaves with baby plantlets create visual interest while removing carbon monoxide and xylene.
Nearly impossible to kill, spider plants thrive in New York’s varying indoor conditions. They produce oxygen while filtering harmful substances, making them perfect allies for urban dwellers seeking cleaner air.
4. Boston Fern
Lush fronds create a tropical oasis while scrubbing your air of pollutants. Many Upper West Side residents place these humidity-loving plants in bathrooms where they thrive in shower steam.
Regular misting keeps them happy in New York’s dry winter months. Their ability to remove formaldehyde makes Boston ferns particularly valuable in newly renovated apartments with fresh paint and furniture.
5. Rubber Plant
With glossy leaves that seem almost polished, rubber plants stand tall in many Staten Island homes. Their broad surfaces efficiently capture air pollutants while requiring minimal care beyond occasional dusting.
These sturdy plants grow impressively in New York’s indoor environments. The thick, leathery leaves not only purify air but also add a bold, architectural element to any room’s design.
6. Aloe Vera
Beyond healing burns, these succulent wonders clear benzene and formaldehyde from your air. Many Bronx residents keep them on kitchen windowsills for both their medicinal gel and air-cleaning abilities.
Requiring minimal water, they’re perfect for New York’s busy lifestyles. The NASA Clean Air Study confirmed aloe’s impressive ability to absorb carbon dioxide at night while releasing oxygen – making it a 24-hour air purifier.
7. English Ivy
Trailing dramatically from shelves across Chelsea apartments, English ivy removes airborne fecal particles and formaldehyde. Studies show it’s particularly effective against mold spores – helpful in New York’s older buildings.
The variegated varieties add visual interest while cleaning your air. Despite its delicate appearance, this plant is remarkably tough, thriving in the varying light conditions found in typical New York homes.
8. Pothos
Nearly indestructible, golden pothos thrives in dark corners of Manhattan studios. Its heart-shaped leaves efficiently filter carbon monoxide and formaldehyde while brightening even the most challenging spots.
New Yorkers appreciate how this plant forgives irregular watering schedules. The trailing vines can grow impressively long, allowing one plant to purify air throughout multiple areas of your space.
9. Chinese Evergreen
Sporting beautiful variegated leaves, these plants thrive in low light conditions common in New York apartments. They remove benzene and formaldehyde while adding tropical flair to your space.
Even novice gardeners in Tribeca lofts find success with these forgiving plants. Their ability to grow well in artificial light makes them perfect for offices and interior rooms lacking natural sunshine.
10. Bamboo Palm
Reaching impressive heights, bamboo palms create a tropical feel while filtering New York’s indoor air. Their feathery fronds excel at removing formaldehyde from furniture and cleaning products.
Many Long Island City residents use these as natural humidifiers during dry winter months. Growing up to 12 feet tall, they make dramatic statements in apartment corners while quietly improving your air quality.
11. Dracaena
With striking striped leaves, dracaenas stand tall in many Park Slope apartments. Their ability to remove trichloroethylene makes them especially valuable in homes near dry cleaning businesses.
Available in various sizes, there’s a dracaena for every New York space. The corn plant variety can grow quite tall, while compact varieties like ‘Janet Craig’ fit perfectly on desks and side tables.
12. Gerbera Daisy
Bringing cheerful blooms and powerful air filtration, these colorful plants remove benzene from your Upper East Side apartment. Their bright flowers continue working overnight, releasing oxygen while you sleep.
New Yorkers appreciate their effectiveness against trichloroethylene from dry-cleaned clothes. Though requiring more attention than some plants on this list, their beauty and air-purifying abilities make them worth the extra care.
13. Philodendron
Heart-shaped leaves make philodendrons beloved fixtures in Williamsburg lofts. Their vining nature allows them to cascade dramatically while removing formaldehyde from the air.
Nearly impossible to kill, they forgive New York’s busy lifestyles. The split-leaf varieties add dramatic tropical flair, while smaller types like ‘Brasil’ offer variegated beauty – all while quietly cleaning your indoor air.
14. Ficus
Towering majestically in Astoria apartments, ficus trees remove airborne toxins while creating dramatic focal points. Their broad leaves efficiently capture dust particles that plague New York’s urban environment.
Though somewhat finicky about changes, they reward consistent care with impressive growth. Various varieties offer different leaf shapes and sizes, from the popular fiddle leaf fig to the more forgiving ficus benjamina.
15. Chrysanthemum
Flowering abundantly while filtering benzene, these colorful plants brighten many Hell’s Kitchen apartments. NASA studies rank them among the most effective air purifiers available to home gardeners.
New Yorkers particularly value their ability to remove ammonia from cleaning products. While they require more light than some plants on this list, their powerful air-cleaning abilities and cheerful blooms make them worth the prime window real estate.
16. ZZ Plant
Virtually indestructible, ZZ plants thrive in dark corners of Greenwich Village apartments. Their glossy leaves not only look attractive but also work continuously to filter indoor air pollutants.
Many New York plant enthusiasts appreciate their drought tolerance. These plants can go weeks without water, making them perfect for frequent travelers or forgetful gardeners while still providing excellent air-purifying benefits.