MYO, Bankside

Common name: Swiss Cheese Plant

Latin name: Monstera deliciosa

Origin: Native to the rainforests of Central America, particularly Mexico and Guatemala

Air cleaning score: 8/10

Other varieties: Monstera adansonii (Swiss Cheese Vine) is a related species with smaller, more perforated leaves that trail and climb

Common name: Japanese Aralia

Latin name: Fatsia japonica

Origin: Native to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ is a popular cultivar with white-speckled leaves, offering a variegated look. Another notable variety is Fatsia japonica ‘Annelise,’ which has striking yellow and green foliage.

Common names:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – Green Princess

Philodendron Asplenium antiquum – Japanese Bird’s Nest Fern

Chamaedorea elegans – Parlor Palm

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – Cintho King Chinese Evergreen

Monstera deliciosa – Swiss Cheese Plant

Latin names:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’

Asplenium antiquum

Chamaedorea elegans

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’

Monstera deliciosa

Origins:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – Central and South America

Asplenium antiquum – East Asia (Japan, Taiwan)

Chamaedorea elegans – Southern Mexico and Guatemala

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – Tropical Asia Monstera deliciosa – Central America, especially Mexico and Guatemala

Air cleaning scores:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – 8/10

Asplenium antiquum – 7/10

Chamaedorea elegans – 8/10

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – 8/10

Monstera deliciosa – 8/10

Common name: Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Latin name: Ficus lyrata

Origin: Africa

Air cleaning score: 5/10

Other varieties: Ficus elastica (Rubber Plant)

Common name: Giant White Bird of Paradise

Latin name: Strelitzia nicolai

Origin: Native to South Africa

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Strelitzia reginae, known as the Bird of Paradise, which has striking orange and blue flowers, and Strelitzia alba, a rare species with large, white flowers.

Common names:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – Green Princess

Philodendron Asplenium antiquum – Japanese Bird’s Nest Fern

Chamaedorea elegans – Parlor Palm

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – Cintho King Chinese Evergreen

Monstera deliciosa – Swiss Cheese Plant

Latin names:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’

Asplenium antiquum

Chamaedorea elegans

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’

Monstera deliciosa

Origins:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – Central and South America

Asplenium antiquum – East Asia (Japan, Taiwan)

Chamaedorea elegans – Southern Mexico and Guatemala

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – Tropical Asia Monstera deliciosa – Central America, especially Mexico and Guatemala

Air cleaning scores:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – 8/10

Asplenium antiquum – 7/10

Chamaedorea elegans – 8/10

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – 8/10

Monstera deliciosa – 8/10

Common name: Giant White Bird of Paradise

Latin name: Strelitzia nicolai

Origin: Native to South Africa

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Strelitzia reginae, known as the Bird of Paradise, which has striking orange and blue flowers, and Strelitzia alba, a rare species with large, white flowers.

Common name: Kentia Palm, Thatch Palm

Latin name: Howea forsteriana

Origin: Native to Lord Howe Island, Australia

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related palms include the Howea belmoreana (Belmore Sentry Palm), which has a more compact, arching growth form.

Common name: Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Latin name: Ficus lyrata

Origin: Africa

Air cleaning score: 5/10

Other varieties: Ficus elastica (Rubber Plant)

Common name: Heartleaf Philodendron, Sweetheart Plant

Latin name: Philodendron scandens

Origin: Native to the tropical regions of Central and South America

Air cleaning score: 8/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Philodendron hederaceum (also known as Philodendron scandens), and Philodendron ‘Brazil’, which has green and yellow variegation.

Common names:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – Green Princess

Philodendron Asplenium antiquum – Japanese Bird’s Nest Fern

Chamaedorea elegans – Parlor Palm

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – Cintho King Chinese Evergreen

Monstera deliciosa – Swiss Cheese Plant

Latin names:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’

Asplenium antiquum

Chamaedorea elegans

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’

Monstera deliciosa

Origins:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – Central and South America

Asplenium antiquum – East Asia (Japan, Taiwan)

Chamaedorea elegans – Southern Mexico and Guatemala

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – Tropical Asia Monstera deliciosa – Central America, especially Mexico and Guatemala

Air cleaning scores:

Philodendron ‘Green Princess’ – 8/10

Asplenium antiquum – 7/10

Chamaedorea elegans – 8/10

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ – 8/10

Monstera deliciosa – 8/10

Common name: Mini Monstera, Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma

Latin name: Monstera minima (also known as Rhaphidophora tetrasperma)

Origin: Native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Malaysia

Air cleaning score: 8/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Monstera deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) and Monstera adansonii, both with larger, more dramatic leaves.

Common name: Blue Torch Cactus

Latin name: Pilosocereus azureus

Origin: Native to the deserts of Mexico

Air cleaning score: 5/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Pilosocereus leucocephalus and Pilosocereus pachycladus, both known for their unique blue-gray hues.

Common name: Heartleaf Philodendron, Sweetheart Plant

Latin name: Philodendron scandens

Origin: Native to the tropical regions of Central and South America

Air cleaning score: 8/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Philodendron hederaceum (also known as Philodendron scandens), and Philodendron ‘Brazil’, which has green and yellow variegation.

Common name: Japanese Arrow Bamboo

Latin name: Pseudosasa japonica

Origin: Native to Japan

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Fargesia nitida (Blue Fountain Bamboo), which is known for its clumping growth, and Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo), known for its bright yellow stems.

Common name: Common Boxwood

Latin name: Buxus sempervirens

Origin: Native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa

Air cleaning score: 6/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Buxus sempervirens ‘Fastigiata’, which has a columnar growth habit, and Buxus sempervirens ‘Green Velvet’, known for its dense, compact form.

Common name: Bay Laurel

Latin name: Laurus nobilis

Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Laurus nobilis ‘Aurea’, known for its golden leaves, and Laurus nobilis ‘Angustifolia’, which has narrower, more elongated leaves.

Common name: Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay

Latin name: Laurus nobilis

Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Laurus nobilis ‘Aurea’, which has golden-hued foliage, and Laurus nobilis ‘Angustifolia’, known for its narrower leaves.

Common name: Japanese Arrow Bamboo

Latin name: Pseudosasa japonica

Origin: Native to Japan

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Fargesia nitida (Blue Fountain Bamboo), which is known for its clumping growth, and Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo), known for its bright yellow stems.

Common name: Common Boxwood

Latin name: Buxus sempervirens

Origin: Native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa

Air cleaning score: 6/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Buxus sempervirens ‘Fastigiata’, which has a columnar growth habit, and Buxus sempervirens ‘Green Velvet’, known for its dense, compact form.

Common name: Bay Laurel

Latin name: Laurus nobilis

Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Laurus nobilis ‘Aurea’, known for its golden leaves, and Laurus nobilis ‘Angustifolia’, which has narrower, more elongated leaves.

Common name: Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay

Latin name: Laurus nobilis

Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region

Air cleaning score: 7/10

Other varieties: Related varieties include Laurus nobilis ‘Aurea’, which has golden-hued foliage, and Laurus nobilis ‘Angustifolia’, known for its narrower leaves.