In the October 2010 issue of HortScience Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science, researchers reported on the ability of certain plants to remove formaldehyde with ferns coming out as the most effective. Another study reported in 2009 tested 28 houseplants to see if they removed five organic air pollutants, including toluene and terpene. According to Jeff Gillman, a University of Minnesota horticultural scientist, English ivy, red flame ivy, wandering Jew, Sprenger’s asparagus fern and wax plant led the list.
