Different varieties of green plants have positive effects on our mental health, especially anxiety. Which ones should be preferred for your interior?
- Indoor plants contribute to our well-being.
- A team of British researchers has compiled a list of the best plants to have at home.
- Plants with thorns and/or pointed leaves are the least popular.
Aside from their beautiful green appearance, houseplants have many benefits for mental and physical health. Various studies have observed that these plants reduce stress and blood pressure, and improve mood. The presence of plants in professional environments has also been linked to greater job satisfaction.
What green plants promote our well-being?
In an article published in the media The Conversation, Jenny Berger, post-doctoral researcher at the University of Reading (UK) indicated that houseplants help meet our need to “reconnect with nature”. The specialist has notably drawn up a list of green plants which do the most good for morale.
In 2022, the scientist and her colleagues from the University of Reading and the Royal Horticultural Society examined the psychological reactions of 520 people to 12 photographs of plants of different shapes. In particular, participants answered an online questionnaire based on their opinion regarding the appearance of each plant.
Eight plant species were included in the study: weeping fig, mother-in-law’s tongue, cactus, prayer plant, bird’s nest fern, golden pothos or devil’s ivy, dragon tree and palm.
Rounded leaves are soothing
According to participants’ responses, all green plants were beneficial for their well-being. However, three plants have been considered the greatest sources of calm:
- pothos;
- the weeping fig tree;
- the Palm tree.
Due to their rounded and/or arched leaves, these plants were rated as the most beautiful and relaxing by volunteers. The palm tree has also been associated with happy memories such as vacations or tropical destinations. “Our results suggest that plants with lush green leaves, high leaf area and dense canopies are likely to provide the biggest boost to your well-being,” noted Jenny Berger.
On the other hand, the cactus and the dragon tree are the plants that were least appreciated by the volunteers. These plants have thorns and/or narrow, pointed leaves, which can be associated with danger, said the British team.
