Who wouldn't want to work in a more colourful, welcoming, healthy environment? One solution is to brighten up desks and corners with office plants — large or small, easier or more demanding to grow.

There are numerous scientific studies published in recent years showing that greener offices increase wellbeing and productivity. The latest comes from the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia and was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. One of the authors, Alexander Haslam, explains that "a green office communicates to employees that their employer values them and cares about their wellbeing. Employees who came from lean office environments recorded increased levels of wellbeing, resulting in a more productive workplace".

Office plants: which ones to choose

Also Marlon Nieuwenhuis, from Cardiff University's School of Psychology, monitored several working environments in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, reaching the same conclusions and explaining how: "although previous research has pointed in this direction, ours is the first to have examined real offices and workplaces. And it refutes the corporate philosophy that calls for clean desks" — and often anonymous ones.

Here, then, are some tips for making our work environments better.

Agave

A succulent that needs very little care. Native to Mexico, it flowers only once in its lifetime in the wild. It withstands long periods without water and grows very slowly. Great for desks.

Aloe

Another succulent, equally easy to care for. It grows well indoors too, and once it has grown you can repot it in larger containers. Excellent for its healing properties.

Maranta leuconeura

With its richly coloured leaves, it displays every shade of green right through to pink veining. It grows well even in low-light environments, as long as temperatures do not drop below 14–15 degrees. In summer the soil should remain moist, while in winter watering can be reduced.

Pilea peperomioides

Originally from China, it is a highly decorative plant, thanks to its almost perfectly circular leaves. It does not grow very large (50 centimetres at most). In English it is known as the 'missionary plant', because legend has it that it was introduced to Europe by a Swedish priest.

Areca palmata

It is ideal for spaces where people spend many hours. It is indeed part of that group of plants capable of purifying the air. In particular, the Areca produces a good amount of oxygen and moisture and combats electrosmog.

Bamboo

A fast-growing plant, it can also be used to create green dividers. Formidable at filtering formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. It survives well both in well-lit environments and in shadier ones. It does need space, however, especially in terms of height.

Dracaena marginata

It is the best-selling dracaena. It has elongated two-tone leaves. It does not tolerate heavy watering but is ideal in the office because it too falls into the category of air-purifying plants.

Boston fern

A plant capable of purifying the air of formaldehyde and xylene. Lush, and when healthy a brilliant green that fills any space. The one thing to bear in mind is that it dislikes direct light and the soil must remain moist.

Pothos

A plant that is practically impossible to kill. It even grows in a small pot filled with water. It is one of the plants that best purifies the air indoors, being capable of absorbing large quantities of CO2 and volatile chemical substances. You just need to remember to give it a little light and a little water.

Spider plant

Originally from South Africa, it is ideal for hanging from the ceiling. It spreads via offshoots that resemble small bushes, and a cascading effect is guaranteed. It dislikes direct light and does not require much watering. Unhealthy leaves should be pruned.

Cover image MorgueFile MConnors