1. Boston Fern

First popularized during the Victorian era, this low-maintenance plant is considered one of the most efficient air purifiers. The ability of the Boston fern to remove airborne viruses and bacteria as well as pollutants from the air, water, or soil is called phytoremediation.

Pollutants enter the root’s biosystem via air, water, and gases, and that’s where they are broken down and turned into a form that plants can use. That’s basically the same process as with nutrients.

The Boston fern appears to be particularly excellent at this beautiful process, ranking 9 in NASA’s large list of 50 air-purifying plants. This indoor plant was also discovered to be most efficient at slashing formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound that’s virtually everywhere in your house. And it’s also animal safe!