18 Air Purifying Summer Plants | 2026 Guide
Find 18 air purifying plants that bloom in summer. Complete guide with care tips.
18 Air Purifying in Summer
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Spathiphyllum wallisii is an elegant houseplant native to the tropical rainforests of Colombia. It features elongated glossy dark green leaves and distinctive white spathe-shaped flowers. Famous for its air-purifying abilities, it removes toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene from indoor environments.
Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera deliciosa
Tropical plant native to Mexico and Central America, known for its large, perforated leaves. It is one of the most popular houseplants in the world due to its exotic appearance and ease of care.
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
The ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a tropical perennial native to eastern Africa, renowned for its glossy, dark green pinnate leaves and remarkable resilience. Its ability to thrive in low light conditions and tolerate drought makes it one of the most popular and beginner-friendly houseplants. The plant grows from underground rhizomes that store water, allowing it to survive extended periods without watering.
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Philodendron hederaceum is a climbing or trailing vine native to Central and South America. Its heart-shaped leaves and vigorous growth make it one of the most popular houseplants. It is resilient, adaptable, and an excellent air purifier.
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
The Spider Plant is one of the most popular and easiest houseplants to grow. Native to South Africa, it features long, arching leaves with green and white stripes. Known for producing "spiderettes" (baby plants) on long stems, it is excellent for hanging baskets and is a proven air purifier according to NASA studies.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a succulent plant species native to the Arabian Peninsula. Known for its thick, fleshy leaves filled with a soothing gel, it has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and skincare. This hardy plant is perfect for beginners and makes an excellent houseplant.
Round-leaf Calathea
Calathea orbifolia
Calathea orbifolia is a tropical plant native to Bolivia, known for its stunning large, rounded leaves with silver and green stripes. It is one of the most popular calatheas but also one of the most demanding in terms of care, especially regarding ambient humidity.
Wax Plant
Hoya carnosa
Hoya carnosa is a beloved tropical vine native to East Asia and Australia, prized for its waxy, succulent-like leaves and stunning clusters of star-shaped, fragrant flowers. This long-lived houseplant can thrive for decades with minimal care, making it perfect for beginners. The plant produces unique umbrella-shaped flower clusters that are pink or white with red centers and emit a sweet fragrance, especially in the evening. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.
African Mask Plant
Alocasia amazonica
Alocasia amazonica is a stunning tropical hybrid known for its dramatic arrow-shaped leaves with bold white veining against deep green foliage and rich purple undersides. Despite its name suggesting Amazonian origins, it is actually a hybrid created in a Florida nursery in the 1950s from Southeast Asian parent species. This compact variety, often sold as "Polly," makes an excellent statement houseplant.
Flamingo Flower
Anthurium andraeanum
Anthurium andraeanum is a tropical plant native to the rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador. It is famous for its glossy heart-shaped spathes that come in vibrant colors like red, pink, white, and orange. Its leaves are large, shiny, and dark green. It is one of the most popular houseplants due to its nearly continuous flowering throughout the year.
Giant White Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia nicolai
Strelitzia nicolai is a striking evergreen plant native to South Africa, known for its large banana-like leaves and dramatic white and blue flowers. It can grow up to 9 meters tall outdoors but remains more manageable indoors, making it a popular choice for creating tropical ambiance in homes and offices.
Corn Plant
Dracaena fragrans
The Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) is a popular tropical houseplant native to Africa, known for its striking sword-shaped leaves that emerge from a woody cane-like stem. This elegant plant can grow up to 6 feet tall indoors and is prized for its air-purifying qualities and low-maintenance nature. The glossy green leaves often feature yellow or cream stripes, and mature plants may produce fragrant white flowers.
Baby Rubber Plant
Peperomia obtusifolia
Tropical evergreen perennial native to Mexico, Florida, and the Caribbean. Notable for its glossy, fleshy, rounded dark green leaves. A compact, bushy plant ideal for indoors due to its low maintenance and resilience. Can reach up to 60 cm in height and produces cream-colored flower spikes during spring and summer.
Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura
Maranta leuconeura is a tropical plant native to Brazilian rainforests, prized for its decorative leaves with unique colorful vein patterns. Its common name "Prayer Plant" comes from the nyctinastic movement of its leaves, which fold upward at night like hands in prayer and open during the day to absorb light.
Dumb Cane
Dieffenbachia seguine
Dieffenbachia seguine is a tropical plant from the Araceae family, native to the Caribbean and Central America. It is known for its large decorative dark green leaves with white or cream spots. It can reach up to 3 meters in height under optimal conditions. It is extremely toxic due to calcium oxalate crystals in its sap, which can cause severe irritation and throat swelling if ingested.
Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior
The Cast Iron Plant is a classic, low-maintenance houseplant native to the shady forest floors of Japan. Known for its dark green, glossy leaves that can grow up to 60cm long, this remarkably resilient plant earns its name from its ability to tolerate neglect, low light, and varying temperatures. It has been a popular Victorian parlor plant and remains an excellent choice for beginners or challenging growing conditions.
Dwarf Umbrella Tree
Schefflera arboricola
The Dwarf Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola) is a versatile, attractive evergreen shrub native to Taiwan and Hainan, China. Known for its glossy, palmately compound leaves with 7-9 leaflets arranged like an umbrella, this resilient plant has become one of the most popular houseplants worldwide. It can grow as a small tree or shrub indoors and is valued for its tolerance of varying light conditions and ease of care.
Peacock Plant
Calathea makoyana
Calathea makoyana is a tropical plant native to Brazil, famous for its striking leaf pattern that resembles peacock feathers. It belongs to the Marantaceae family and is known as a "prayer plant" because it moves its leaves throughout the day, opening them to capture light and closing them at night.
Air Purifying Plants for Summer
If you're looking for air purifying plants that bloom in summer, this selection of 18 species is ideal for you.
How to Grow Air Purifying Plants
Air Purifying plants generally share similar growing characteristics. During summer, pay special attention to each species' light, water, and temperature needs to ensure abundant and healthy blooming.
Benefits of Air Purifying Plants
Choosing air purifying plants for summer brings specific advantages. Whether for ease of care, environmental adaptation, or special characteristics, these 18 options were selected to offer the best results during this season.