Best Office Plants and Flowers to Boost Productivity

Managers are always looking for ways to boost staff productivity and enhance working conditions. However, these efforts don’t necessarily need to be expensive. Often adding a few office flowers or plants here and there is an affordable and highly effective solution. 

Plants make a difference in offices because they improve air quality and reduce stress. People often feel more at ease when they are around them, helping them focus better, improving their well-being. Flowers can also reduce the number of sick days people take, meaning that these additions often pay for themselves. 

This guide explores the top office plants and flowers to include in your workplace. Then, it runs through some tips for incorporating plants into your office and how you can make the most of them. 

Top Office Plants And Flowers

So, what are the best office plants?

Phalaenopsis Orchid

Top of the list of corporate flowers is the enigmatic phalaenopsis orchid. This species comes in various colors and has a striking appearance. All it requires to survive is some indirect light and careful watering, so it doesn’t need a rigorous maintenance schedule. 

Workers love the fact that the phalaenopsis orchid can boost morale and make them feel better about the day ahead. It naturally elevates the workplace and makes people feel lighter. 

Pothos

Another office addition is pothos. This plant has trailing vines with variegated leaves, which look different from most other options. 

Pothos works in offices because it can survive in low light conditions. It also grows without assistance and doesn’t require maintenance beyond the occasional clipping. 

Office workers like this plant because it goes with upbeat décor and cleans the air. It can soften harsh aesthetics, making employees feel more at home at work. 

The downside is its toxicity for pets if ingested. Therefore, avoid this species if you allow workers to bring their cats and dogs into the office on Fridays. 

ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant is also an option for offices. This plant is special because of its compact, deep-green leaves and its ability to survive with minimal sunlight and watering. Despite its hardiness, it can stay looking lush and green for weeks and months. 

The ZZ plant is most popular in low-maintenance offices. Service companies will often use it to reduce their running costs while still providing clients with plenty of greenery to keep them happy. It is also one of the more attractive indoor plants out there. 

Lavender

Lavender is another option for companies wanting to keep their offices fragrant. These plants have characteristic purple flowers, sometimes running along the primary stem, and other times at the tip (depending on the cultivar). 

Lavender needs more maintenance than the other plants on this list but offers unique benefits because of its scent. The flowers’ fragrance reduces stress, leading to improved focus and lower risk of burnout. Despite its pungency, it is also safe for pets in small quantities, so nibbling isn’t a big issue. 

Gerbera Daisy

The gerbera daisy comes in various bright shades, including pink, yellow, and red. It’s a high-maintenance option (which is why you don’t see it much in offices), but it also has more of a visual impact. 

The best workplace displays line gerbera daisy up in long boxes placed next to windows with automatic watering. Many employees find that the plant makes them feel more cheerful and less stressed. The flower is 100% non-toxic, although it may pose an allergy risk to sensitive individuals. 

Snake Plant

A snake plant is also an option for the office. It offers tall, sword-like leaves with interesting patterns, giving it a professional, almost corporate, appeal. 

Snake plants are low-maintenance because they are used to living on forest floors. They can thrive in low-light conditions, like other succulents, and don't need much watering. Unlike many plants, you’re unlikely to find them dead after the summer break and they can still remove toxins from the air, despite their modest metabolisms. Many offices use them to reduce odors from inkjet printers and fire retardants.

Peace Lily

The peace lily is another plant you often see indoors, especially in offices. Its primary feature is its large, dense green leaves, but it can also produce sail-like flowers that pop up three or four at a time. 

Peace lilies are popular in offices because they can remove toxic compounds in the air like benzene and formaldehyde. These are common in building materials and furnishings. For example, formaldehyde is often used in adhesives and resins for wood-based products, like plywood and particle board. It’s also in various fabrics, which can leech out into the environment in small quantities over time. Meanwhile benzene, a well-known carcinogen, is found in glues, paints and furniture waxes, which are also common in workplace furnishing materials. 

Areca Palm

You could also experiment with areca palm if you want your office to enjoy more of a tropical feel. These plants love bright and airy workspaces but don’t require a lot of water. 
 
The main productivity benefit of this plant is its dryness-reducing abilities that counteract air conditioning. It naturally humidifies, making the environment more comfortable for most workers. 

It also has an energizing aesthetic. Many workers can’t wait to get to their desks when this plant is around.

Anthurium

Anthurium is another plant worth considering for the office. While it likes being in bright areas, it can thrive in indirect light and only requires watering when soil becomes dry. 

People like working next to anthurium because of its bright and attractive blooms. These lift mood while also purifying the air, which contributes to workplace health. 

Cast Iron Plant

Cast iron plants are quite different. These have dark, sturdy leaves and grow upright, with many of the same harsh-condition adaptations as succulents. You don’t need to water them regularly, and you can get away with placing them in low-light areas. 

Cast iron plants get their name from their ability to survive difficult indoor conditions. The Victorians invented the term when Londoners realized the species could thrive in their dank kitchens and living rooms. They are non-toxic and specialize in purifying the air.

Zinnias

Less well-known are zinnias. These plants have pink, orange or white daisy-like flowers, giving them a bright, spring-like feel. 

They’re okay for the office, but require extra light and regular watering compared to most species on this list. Even so, their vivid colors are often irreplaceable for boosting productivity and creativity. Many companies use them in break-out spaces to enhance the ideation process. 

Dracaena

Finally, you could opt for dracaena. Businesses love this plant because of its long, slender leaves that pair well with neutral office décor. 

Evidence suggests that dracaena can remove xylene from offices, improving air quality for better focus. This chemical is hazardous because it can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and lead to conditions like dizziness and nausea, which harm productivity. Long-term, it can also cause problems with the central nervous system, which is why it is critical to get in-office concentrations as low as possible.

 
How To Add Plants To Your Office

So, how can you add these plants to your office for maximum effect? 

Establish A Maintenance Schedule

First, establish a maintenance schedule. Setting out a care routine enables you to keep them looking their best long-term. 

Start by allocating responsibilities among staff. Getting everyone to pitch in according to a schedule prevents disaster from striking. 

You can also get outsourced office management companies to do this for you. They can water and feed your greenery as required alongside emptying the bins and vacuuming the floors. 

Place Your Plants In The Right Areas

Next, think about where you’ll place your plants, focusing on areas where they’ll provide the most benefit. Smaller species are best for corners and desks, while flowers are for reception areas and window ledges. 

Ideally, you should match plants’ light requirements to their positioning. For example, bright flowering plants often require substantially more sunlight to thrive. Meanwhile, greener and darker species, like succulents, are best for shaded spots. 

Choose Variety

Finally, ensure you vary the plants you add to your office spaces. Combining them often leads to better aesthetics and higher productivity because you get multiple benefits. For example, you could add trailing Pothos to your hallways and lavender to your meeting rooms. 

Now You Know The Best Office Plants And Flowers For Productivity

Well done for reaching the end of this guide. By now, you should have a better idea of the plants to include in your office to boost productivity. What’s interesting is how each species offers something new. Some plants make staff feel more relaxed, while others enhance productivity by boosting air quality. 

Find the best plants and flowers for desk workers today from James Cress Florist and see how it could make a difference in your firm.