It’s estimated that land plant life on Earth evolved roughly 700 million years ago. As a Pre-Med Biology Bachelor of Arts recipient at the University of Texas at Austin, I studied this in depth for years. Just kidding, I simply googled it. What starts there truly does change the world. Plants are fascinating for more reasons than we can count as a human species – their rich diversity, the complexity of photosynthesis, and their place in mankind as a source of food, medicine, and for my boys in California and Colorado ~ a good time ~.

But let’s not forget our absolute necessity of plants for our survival. They are literally our opposite when it comes to breathing, releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, the “lungs of the earth”. But what happens when we bring plants into our homes? A lot. Houseplants not only freshen the air we breathe but they eliminate almost 90 percent of air toxins (studies provided by NASA, shoutout to Bryce Strauss). They add color and energy. They give me something to tend to as a side project. And in a day in age that is so competitive, negative, and stressful, plants provide a refuge in the home that can simply improve our mental health.

What better way to put my Biology degree to work than to share with you some of my favorite houseplants, some of these I own and others that I’m yearning to purchase. When Maya Angelou said, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style,” let’s all agree that she was partially referring to indoor plants that can brighten our lives. Take care, buy a plant, and enjoy your Friday, baby.

Cheers,

CW

Calathea Medallian

Philodendron Monstera

Teardrop Peperomia

Jade Pothos

Bird of Paradise

Zanzabar Gem

Rubber Plant

Boston Fern