Question
After reading this response on the Internet in a search for a Plant I can bring to a Lung Cancer patient -  I'm told that oxygen rich environments are good for lung cancer patients - can you steer me towards a real hardy - wide leaf sturdy house plant!


thanks much

William McGrorty
Lancaster PA


Answer
William,

Nasa discovered that a number of common houseplant clean chemicals from the air and convert carbon dioxide to oxygen in the air. The best plants are:

Hedera helix   English ivy
Chlorophytum comosum   spider plant
Epipiremnum aureum   golden pothos
Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa'    peace lily
Aglaonema modestum   Chinese evergreen
Chamaedorea sefritzii   bamboo or reed palm
Sansevieria trifasciata    snake plant
Philodendron scandens `oxycardium'   heartleaf philodendron
Philodendron selloum   selloum philodendron
Philodendron domesticum    elephant ear philodendron
Dracaena marginata   red-edged dracaena
Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana'   cornstalk dracaena
Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig'   Janet Craig dracaena
Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii'   Warneck dracaena
Ficus benjamina  weeping fig

The following websites have more info:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h110indoorair.html

http://www.plant-care.com/indoor-plants-clean-air-1.html

Good luck!

Darlene