Magazine answers question about best office plants

In the January/February 2010 issue of Men’s Health magazine (Page 22) a reader asks what are the best plants for his office? The answer, based on a response from James Dillard, an integrative medicine physician, and retired NASA scientist Bill Wolverton, author of “Plants: Why You Can’t Live Without Them”, depends on a number of factors including the amount of sunlight in the room and a person’s plant care expertise. The 6 plants recommended include: areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) for air filtering; peppermint (Mentha x piperita) whose scent can increase alertness, enhance memory and suppress appetite; English ivy (Hedera helix) absorbs volatile organic compounds and airborne pollutants; lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) whose sent improves mood and raises levels of norepinephrine; golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) reduces indoor ozone; and gardenia (Gardenia augusta) whose flowers can act like a long-acting antidepressant that can improve emotional outlook.