When you need a quick breather but can’t afford to head outdoors, your best bet is indoor plants! Studies have shown that people who have plants on their desk or personal space have lower blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Check out these 15 best stress-relieving plants that we think would be perfect for your indoor space..
1. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
| Scientific Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name/s | • Basil • Genovese Basil • Purple Basil • Saint Joseph’s Wort • Sweet Basil • Thai Basil |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | • Seed • Stem cutting |
| Height | 4 inches to 3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
Basil helps your body respond well to stress while increasing your mental well-being. This plant acts as an adaptogen, a natural substance that helps the body adapt to stress, relieve anxiety, prevent depression and improve mental clarity.
Besides being a tasty herb for salad dressings and other dishes, basil leaves are also a natural remedy to treat stomach ulcers, sore throats and insect bites.
2. Devil’s Ivy Plant (Epipremnum aureum)
| Scientific Name | Epipremnum aureum |
| Common Name/s | • Devil’s Ivy • Devil’s Vine • Golden Pothos • Ivy Arum • Marble Queen • Pothos • Taro Vine |
| Family | Araceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | Stem cutting |
| Height | 6 inches to 20 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxicity | • Medium • Contains calcium oxalate crystals |
| Poison Symptoms | • Oral irritation • Pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips • Excessive drooling • Vomiting • Difficulty swallowing • Skin irritation • Contact dermatitis • Diarrhea |
Unlike its name, Devil’s Ivy will do more good than harm by purifying the air quality in the room, relieving stress and anxiety attacks.
In feng shui, this plant is also called the money plant as they believe it will bring a constant flow of money and happiness into your home.
3. Jasmine Plant (Jasminum officinale)
| Scientific Name | Jasminum officinale |
| Common Name/s | Common Jasmine Poet’s Jasmine |
| Family | Oleaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | • Cutting • Layering • Sucker • Grafting • Budding • Tissue culture |
| Height | 4 to 15 feet |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
A jasmine plant on your desk is a pleasing appearance because of its beautiful white flowers and a natural way to reduce stress and anxiety.
Jasmine plants lower stress levels, keep you alert and increase productivity by giving off a pleasing aroma and a fresh oxygen supply.
4. Rosemary Plant (Salvia rosmarinus)
| Scientific Name | Salvia rosmarinus |
| Common Name/s | • Anthos • Rosemary |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | • Division • Layering • Seed • Stem cutting |
| Height | 4 to 5 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
Rosemary’s evergreen pine-like aroma helps improve your cognitive functions. This means that it can reduce your anxiety level and lower your cortisol levels.
Its woodsy fragrance is also a mainstay in aromatherapy as it improves memory function and provides soothing effects to the mind and body.
5. Aloe Plant (Aloe vera)
| Scientific Name | Aloe vera |
| Common Name/s | • Aloe • Aloe Vera • Barbados Aloe • Medicinal Aloe • Medicine Plant • True Aloe |
| Family | Asphodelaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | Division1 |
| Height | 1 to 2 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxicity | • Low • Contains anthraquinone glycoside |
| Poison Symptoms | • Contact dermatitis • Abdominal cramping • Diarrhea • Red urine • Skin irritation |
The aloe plant doesn’t just heal burns because of its anti-inflammatory properties; it also heals the air in your home.
Aloe is a perfect choice for workaholics who have far too much screen time. It provides more oxygen to the room, reducing the effect of harmful radiation from electronic devices.
Aloe vera is also a natural air purifier, so with fresh air to breathe, your stress and anxiety levels will significantly be reduced.
6. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
| Genus | Spathiphyllum |
| Common Name/s | • Mauna Loa Peace Lily • Peace Lily • Spathe Flower • White Sails |
| Family | Araceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | Division |
| Height | 1 to 6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxic | • Medium • Contains oxalate crystals |
| Poison Symptoms | • Burning sensation to the lips, tongue, and throat • Excessive drooling • Vomiting • Difficulty swallowing |
You’ll enjoy a nice and slow exhale at just the sight of its striking white flower. But there’s more to the peace lily plant than its appearance.
This indoor plant can absorb harmful chemical compounds like carbon monoxide, xylene, toluene, formaldehyde and benzene. It can also absorb mold spores to soothe allergy discomfort in your home.
7. Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
| Scientific Name | Dracaena trifasciata |
| Common Name/s | • Golden Birds Nest • Good Luck Plant • Mother-in-law’s Tongue • Snake Plant |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | DivisionCutting |
| Height | 1 to 3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxicity | • Low • Contains saponins |
| Poison Symptoms | • Vomiting • Depression • Nausea • Diarrhea • Anorexia • Hypersalivation • Dilated pupils for cats |
The snake plant is another top choice for stress-relieving plants in homes and offices because of its air-purifying capacity.
According to NASA, snake plants can produce enough oxygen for humans when trapped in a sealed room.
The fresh air will help ease headaches, breathing problems and even eye irritation as it absorbs excess carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, and other toxins in the air.
8. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
| Scientific Name | Chlorophytum comosum |
| Common Name/s | • Anthericum Comosum • Chlorophytum • Ribbon Plant • Spider Ivy • Spider Plant • Walking Anthericum |
| Family | Asparagacea |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | Division |
| Height | 1 to 6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
Spider plants reduce anxiety and depression in people who place them in their homes and offices. It can calm your nerves and improve cognitive function, reducing stress levels because of its presence.
9. Lavender Plant (Lavandula angustifolia)
| Scientific Name | Lavandula angustifolia |
| Common Name/s | • Common Lavender • English Lavender • Lavender • Narrow-Leaved Lavender |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | • Division • Seed • Stem cutting |
| Height | 1 to 3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxic | • Low • Contains linalool and linalyl acetate |
| Poison Symptoms | • Nausea • Vomiting • Inappetence |
It seems like Taylor Swift is right; it’s best to stay in that “lavender haze” as it’s one of the best natural anxiety-relieving plants.
The lavender plant will soothe your mind and free you from stress and anxiety with its heavenly and comforting scent.
Its pleasant fragrance also has sedative properties that lower blood pressure and slow down heart rate, which will help you sleep faster and more calmly at night.
10. Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii)
| Scientific Name | Gerbera jamesonii |
| Common Name/s | • African Daisy • Barberton Daisy • Gerbera Daisy • Gerber Daisy • Transvaal Daisy • Veldt Daisy |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | • Division • Seed |
| Height | 1 to 1 foot and 6 inches |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
Seeing beautiful and brightly-colored gerbera daisies will automatically cheer you up and reduce your anxiety.
What’s great is that this plant also has air-purifying properties and can remove benzene from the air.
11. Chamomile Plant (Chamaemelum nobile)
| Scientific Name | Chamaemelum nobile |
| Common Name/s | • Barnyard Daisy • Chamomile • Corn Feverfew • Garden Chamomile • Ground-apple • Manzanilla • Roman Chamomile • True Chamomile • Turkey-weed |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | DivisionSeed |
| Height | 2 feet |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxicity | • Low • Contains volatile oil, bisabolol, chamazulene, anthemic acid and tannic acid |
| Poison Symptoms | • Contact dermatitis • Vomiting • Diarrhea • Anorexia • Allergic reactions |
Besides its white-petalled flower, chamomile is an excellent plant within reach because you can turn it into chamomile tea, treat upset stomachs, and improve your digestive system.
12. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
| Scientific Name | Dypsis lutescens |
| Common Name/s | • Areca Palm • Bamboo Palm • Butterfly Palm • Cane Palm • Golden Butterfly Palm • Golden Feather Palm • Yellow Palm |
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | Division |
| Height | 10 to 30 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
The areca palm is a top choice for indoor air-purifying plants. It’s low maintenance and proven to remove toxins from the air, securing a healthier atmosphere.
As a result, areca palms in your home or office will help calm you down and lower your anxiety and blood pressure levels.
13. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
| Scientific Name | Mentha x piperita |
| Common Name/s | Peppermint |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | • Division • Stem cutting |
| Height | 1 to 3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Maintenance | High |
| Toxicity | • Low • Contains essential oils |
| Poison Symptoms | • Vomiting • Diarrhea |
Peppermint is the ultimate anti-anxiety plant. It will keep your home and office fresh with its minty fragrance and immediately chase those Monday blues away.
Peppermint plants also contain menthol, which has been proven to ease stress and energize you all day.
If you’re having a bad day, you can chop off some peppermint leaves and soak them in warm running water for a soothing batch that will relax your muscles.
14. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
| Scientific Name | Hedera helix |
| Common Name/s | • Algerian Ivy • Baltic Ivy • Branching Ivy • California Ivy • Common Ivy • English Ivy • Glacier Ivy • Hahn’s Self-Branching English Ivy • Needlepoint Ivy • Sweetheart Ivy |
| Family | Araliaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Propagation | • Division • Root Cutting • Seed • Stem Cutting |
| Height | 20 to 80 feet |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Maintenance | High |
| Toxic | • Medium • Contains triterpenoid saponins and polyacetylene compounds |
| Poison Symptoms | • Skin irritation with redness, itching, and blisters • Burning sensation in the throat • Delirium • Stupor • Convulsions • Hallucinations • Fever and rash • Vomiting • Abdominal pain • Hypersalivation • Diarrhea |
The English ivy is a great hanging plant proven to reduce mold’s effect, keep airborne diseases away, and calm allergic reactions.
It’s also one of the best air-purifying plants, which will help relieve stress and anxiety, reduce headaches and help you get a good night’s sleep.
We recommend hanging these up during the winter and holidays when airborne diseases like cough, colds and flu are prevalent.
15. Chrysanthemum
| Genus | Chrysanthemum |
| Common Name/s | Chrysanthemum |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Life Cycle | Annual |
| Propagation | • Root suckers • Terminal cutting |
| Height | 2 to 4 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
Chrysanthemum’s bright flowers not only lessen your stress; they can purify the air and remove toxins, which will help relax your body in times of stress.
For centuries, chamomile tea has been used to reduce stress, treat inflammation, upset stomach and insomnia, and increase metabolism.
