You might have noticed the houseplant boom that has taken off over the last couple of years. Regardless of them looking to be a new trend, in fact, humans have kept plants and trees in pots for thousands of years, supporting the well-known benefits of having positive environmental wellness.

Environmental wellness inspires us to surround ourselves with a suitable work and living environment, without hazard. It also encourages us to understand the role we play in the world, respecting and appreciating our surroundings and living in harmony with the Earth by taking action to protect it. Having houseplants around us can reinforce this connection with the environment and stimulate our minds from the comfort of our own home.
As well as looking good they support our health and wellbeing, with research showing that houseplants improve indoor air quality, reduce stress levels, and reduce blood pressure to name just a few benefits. The types and numbers of houseplants needed to achieve these health benefits are unclear. However, the greater the number of plants used, the more likely the benefit to air quality and overall wellbeing is going to be.

What science has shown us is that humans are happier when they are close to aesthetically pleasing living things. Office workers are more productive and happy when surrounded by indoor plants, and having plants in hospital rooms helps surgical patients recover faster by lowering blood pressure, pain, and fatigue levels. Studies have found that even the simple act of looking out the window at a tiny strip of nature can have restorative mental health properties; which means by investing in a couple of plants in your home or workplace, you will reap these benefits.

One big reason why most people love houseplants is that it is an easy way to bring a touch of nature inside. With demanding jobs and families, and not spending as much time in nature as we could benefit from, houseplants are a great way to carve out a little piece of nature in your home environment.

So if you are ready to start surrounding yourself with nature, below is a list of easy to grow foliage houseplants, which have attractive leaves and an ability to withstand the environmental conditions typically encountered indoors (tolerance of shade and fluctuating temperatures). Also, they are usually inexpensive and easy to maintain.