Early laboratory studies (such as NASA's Clean Air Study) found that plants could reduce small amounts of volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and benzene.

Origins and Cultural Significance

Snake Plant

While the Laurentii Snake plant holds significance in many cultures, it actually originates from West Africa, specifically The Congo and Nigeria. Its ability to adapt and thrive in neglectful conditions have marked the Snake plant as symbol of resiliency and strength.

Before it became a very popular houseplant, it was utilized in a variety of textile applications. The fibers of its leaves would be used to make bowstrings, rope, and baskets, which earned it the nickname Vipers Bowstring Hemp.

In many spiritual practices and cultural folklore, snake plants were used for spiritual protection, said to ward off evil energies. In Brazil and Portugal, the plant is widely referred to as the Esapada de São George or the Sword of Saint George who in Catholicism, was a knight who defeated a dragon with the tip of his sword. In Chinese and many Asian cultures, its said Laurentii Snake plants bestowed prosperity, fertility, and positive chi or energy flow.

Up until 2017, it was formerly known as the Sansevieria trifsciata. While it had been named by Carl Peter Thunberg, a swedish naturalist, the name actually honors the Italian prince Raimondo di Sangro. Raimondo was the prince of San Servo as well as a renowned alchemist, botanist, inventory, writer, and free thinker.

Golden Pothos

Epiprenum aureum, Hunters Robe, Devils Ivy, or most commonly known as, the Golden Pothos plant. Excelling in both elegance and resiliency, this tropical vining plant is an amazing starter plant to beginners looking to grow their collection. Golden Pothos produce beautiful, glossy, heart shaped green leaves with golden yellow marbling. Famous for its trailing growth habits, Golden Pothos vines can grow anywhere from 12 to 18 inches in length with dense amount of leaves. This combination creates a lovely cascading effect, making Golden Pothos perfect for hanging baskets or shelves. Golden Pothos are also extremely beneficial to your well-being. They serve as natural air purifier, cleansing your space of many airborne toxins like benzene and formaldehyde. They also have the ability to release moisture into the air, improving humidity in dry environments. Their very hardy plants that can adapt to almost any condition.

Origins and Cultural Significance

While Golden Pothos are internationally famous and can be found in homes all over the world, studies seem to pinpoint its original home to be the South Pacific. Particularly the Solomon Islands and Mo'orea, a volcanic island in French Polynesia.

There are at least a dozen different cultivars of Pothos, Epiprenum aureum. Golden Pothos serves as the parent to majority of the varieties that exist.

Earning the name Devils Ivy, through its ability to survive all conditions including "the depths of Hell". Its aptitude for adaptability has led to it being universally recognized as a symbol of resiliency and persistence. In countries like India and China, Golden Pothos are referred to as the "money plant" believed to attract financial abundance and good fortune. In Spiritual practices like Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra, Golden Pothos can be used remove negative and stagnant energies. In these practices it's said that if placed in the southeast section of a room (the area of prosperity) it activates the Golden Pothos' ability to attract wealth and success.

Its established name is Golden Pothos, officially first classified in 1880 as Pothos aureus. Its due to this original classification that the plant has retained its Pothos name. Though its official class hasn't been that for over 100 years. In 1908, it would be reclassified as Scindapsus aureus, due to it looking similar to plants in the same family (I.e. Silver Satin). However in 1962, after a very rare flower appeared on the Golden pothos, it was then reclassified again under the name Rhaphidophora aurea, due to initial studies of the flower. Finally two years later in 1964, botanist George Bunting classified it as Epiprenum aureum after observing and studying the flower and its growing patterns.