Skip to content

Best plants for best plants for office — PlantSage

VIIIBest plants for…·Office24 picks
ISection · 01

Best plants for office

— Office plants need to survive your worst impulses: forgotten weekends, vacation absences, fluorescent lighting, and air conditioning that swings between sahara and arctic. The pick

Office plants need to survive your worst impulses: forgotten weekends, vacation absences, fluorescent lighting, and air conditioning that swings between sahara and arctic. The picks below are nearly impossible to kill — most tolerate 2-3 weeks without water, indirect light from any source, and the dry air typical of climate-controlled buildings.

IISection · 02

Recommended picks

Editor pick
Adam's Needle
Yucca smalliana

Adam's Needle (Yucca smalliana) is a subshrub or shrub native to the southeastern United States and Ontario, thriving in…

medicinaledible
Editor pick
Adzuki Bean
Vigna angularis

Adzuki Bean (Vigna angularis) is an annual vine native to eastern Asia, including regions such as Assam, China South Cen…

edible
Editor pick
Agrimony
Agrimonia eupatoria

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) is a perennial plant native to a wide range of regions across Europe and parts of Asia, i…

medicinaledible
Alchemilla alpina
Alchemilla alpina

Alchemilla alpina, commonly known as Lady's Mantle, is a perennial herb native to the cooler regions of Europe and north…

medicinaledible
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a perennial herb that reaches up to 1 meter in height and thrives in light, medium, or heav…

medicinaledible
Alkali Sakaton
Sporobolus airoides

Alkali Sakaton (Sporobolus airoides) is a perennial grass native to the western and central United States, as well as pa…

Poaceaeedible
Alkanna tinctoria
Alkanna tinctoria

Alkanna tinctoria, commonly known as Alkanet, is a perennial plant native to regions including Albania, Algeria, Bulgari…

Boraginaceaemedicinaledible
Allium acuminatum
Allium acuminatum

Allium acuminatum, commonly known as narrowleaf garlic, is a hardy perennial that thrives in zones 5 9, reaching heights…

medicinaledible
Allium douglasii
Allium douglasii

Allium douglasii, commonly known as Douglas' onion, is a small herbaceous plant native to Uruguay and found in the wild …

medicinaledible
Allium sativum ophioscorodon
Allium sativum ophioscorodon

Allium sativum ophioscorodon, a member of the Alliaceae family and commonly known as Allium sativum ophioscorodon, is an…

Alliaceaemedicinaledible
Allium scorodoprasum
Allium scorodoprasum

Allium scorodoprasum, a member of the Alliaceae family, is native to a wide range of countries including Austria, Baltic…

Liliaceaemedicinaledible
Aloe vera
Aloe vera

Aloe vera, native to Oman, is a perennial plant that thrives in full sun and well draining soil, making it adaptable to …

medicinaledible
Alstroemeria ligtu
Alstroemeria ligtu

Alstroemeria ligtu, commonly known as the Andean lily, is a perennial plant native to the diverse habitats of Argentina …

Liliaceaemedicinaledible
Alstroemeria pelegrina
Alstroemeria pelegrina

Alstroemeria pelegrina, commonly known as the Peruvian lily, is a perennial native to Chile Central and Peru. This plant…

Liliaceaeedible
American Pennyroyal
Hedeoma pulegioides

American Pennyroyal, scientifically known as Hedeoma pulegioides, is a hardy annual herb native to the eastern and centr…

edible
Amur daylily
Hemerocallis middendorffii

Amur daylily (Hemerocallis middendorffii), a hardy perennial native to regions including China, Japan, Korea, and parts …

Asclepiadaceaeedible
Anemone nikoensis
Anemone nikoensis

Anemone nikoensis is a perennial plant native to Japan and Korea, known for its adaptability to various soil types inclu…

edible
Anise
Pimpinella anisum

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a small herb native to the North Caucasus and Transcaucasus regions, with a range extending…

medicinaledible
Annual mallow
Lavatera trimestris

Annual mallow, scientifically known as Lavatera trimestris, is an annual herbaceous plant native to regions including Al…

edible
Annual Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus indicus

Annual Yellow Sweetclover (Melilotus indicus) is a light-loving herb that thrives in dry to moist conditions and prefers…

medicinaledible
Arabis sagittata
Arabis sagittata

Arabis sagittata, commonly known as arrowleaf rockcress, is a hardy plant native to regions including Afghanistan, Alban…

edible
Artemisia caruifolia
Artemisia caruifolia

Artemisia caruifolia, a member of the Asteraceae family, is native to regions including Assam, China, India, Korea, Manc…

medicinaledible
Artemisia dracunculus
Artemisia dracunculus

Artemisia dracunculus, commonly known as tarragon, is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Native to re…

medicinaledible
Artemisia indica
Artemisia indica

Artemisia indica, a member of the Asteraceae family, is native to regions including Assam, Cambodia, and various parts o…

medicinaledible
Care tip

Office air is the driest most plants ever experience (15-30% humidity from constant HVAC). Group plants together to share moisture, or place a small water tray nearby to evaporate ambient humidity. Skip humidifiers — they cause condensation issues in shared spaces.

IIISection · 03

Common questions

Best plant for a desk with no natural light?

Snake plant or ZZ plant — both thrive in fluorescent or LED office lighting and can go 2-3 weeks between waterings.

Will my plant survive a week's vacation?

Most office picks (snake plant, ZZ plant, pothos) easily survive 2 weeks unwatered. Water deeply before leaving, move to a slightly shadier spot to slow transpiration.

Do office plants help productivity?

Research suggests yes — studies show ~15% productivity increase in greener offices, plus reduced stress markers. The exact mechanism is debated, but the effect is real.

Are plants allowed in most offices?

Usually yes for small desk plants. Some buildings restrict large floor plants (water risk to carpet) or strongly-scented species (open-plan etiquette).

Which office plants don't attract bugs?

Snake plant and ZZ plant rarely have pest issues. Pothos can attract fungus gnats if overwatered — bottom-water and use mineral mulch to prevent.

IVSection · 04

Related guides

Explore further
❦❦❦❦
Endpaper · archive updates

Primește digest-ul săptămânal

Un email curat pe săptămână — profile noi de plante, note sezoniere de cultivare, adăugiri în arhiva de remedii. Gratuit, fără tracking, dezabonare oricând.

Newsletter returning soon.
We are rebuilding the update list around a lightweight editorial workflow. New dispatches will resume after the next content review cycle.