Air-conditioning runs for long hours in most coworking spaces across cities in Australia. Meeting rooms are often tucked away from windows and furniture gets moved more frequently than people realise.
Not every indoor plant copes well with those conditions.
Some species, however, have a strong track record in shared workplaces. They tolerate inconsistent light, handle air-conditioned interiors and continue looking good with regular maintenance. Below, we’ll look at the coworking space plants we recommend most often, where they perform best and why many operators choose plant hire to keep them looking their best.
What plants do for a coworking space
People notice a workspace long before they sit down at a desk. Reception areas, meeting rooms and shared lounges all shape first impressions.
For many designers, plants have become a standard part of interior design in coworking spaces. They can be used to:
- Soften large open areas
Open-plan layouts can feel hard and unfinished without greenery. Plants introduce texture and colour that balances concrete, glass and exposed services. - Break up noise and visual distractions
Large planter boxes, green walls and plant partitioning help separate work zones without closing off the floor. While plants won’t soundproof a space, they can soften noise and create a greater sense of privacy between teams. - Support workplace wellbeing
Greenery brings a natural element into highly built commercial spaces. Research such as the NASA Clean Air Study helped drive interest in the relationship between plants and indoor spaces. You can also explore the broader benefits of plants in the office.
Biophilic office design incorporates elements of nature into the office environment. Depending on how the space is used, hanging planters, feature pots, green walls and floor-standing displays all serve different purposes.
The best plants for shared, high-traffic spaces
We tend to recommend the same handful of species for coworking projects because they thrive well indoors.
They cope with air-conditioning, recover from occasional neglect and continue looking presentable in busy shared spaces. That’s far more important than choosing a plant because it looked good in a showroom.
The ZZ plant, snake plant (Sansevieria), Kentia palm, philodendron ‘Xanadu’, peace lily and pothos are ideal plants for commercial interiors.
Native Australian plants are rarely our first recommendation indoors, as most prefer natural sunlight.
Low or no natural light
Internal meeting rooms, corridors and work zones away from windows often struggle to support a wide range of plants.
The ZZ plant and snake plant are usually a good choice for these areas. If you’re dealing with particularly dark spaces, our guide to plants for windowless offices covers additional options.
Drafty aircon
Constant airflow dries out many indoor plants. ZZ plants, snake plants and established Kentia palms generally cope well with air-conditioned offices. We regularly use these species in locations where vents run throughout the day. You can find more recommendations in our guide to the best plants for air-conditioned spaces.
High-traffic walking paths
Plants near walkways need to tolerate the occasional bump from bags, chairs and people moving through the space.
Kentia palms, philodendron ‘Xanadu’ and larger snake plants tend to hold up well in these locations.
Can survive minimal care even when left on weekends
Most coworking spaces are far quieter on weekends than weekdays.
ZZ plants, pothos and snake plants handle these periods particularly well. They don’t need constant watering and recover quickly if conditions fluctuate slightly between service visits.
| Plant | Light | Aircon | High-Traffic | Weekend Neglect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZZ Plant | Low to bright indirect light | Excellent tolerance | Sturdy stems handle occasional bumps | Excellent |
| Snake Plant (Sansevieria) | Low to bright indirect light | Excellent tolerance | Tough, upright leaves, highly durable | Excellent |
| Kentia Palm | Medium to bright indirect light | Good tolerance | Strong mature specimens perform well near walkways | Good |
| Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ | Medium indirect light | Good tolerance | Dense foliage, recovers well from minor damage | Good |
| Peace Lily | Low to medium indirect light | Moderate tolerance | Better suited to lower-traffic locations | Moderate |
| Pothos (Trailing) | Low to bright indirect light | Good tolerance | Best in elevated planters or hanging displays | Excellent |
No single plant suits every part of a coworking floor. Reception areas, meeting rooms, breakout spaces and hot-desking zones often require different species, particularly when light levels and foot traffic vary across the tenancy.
Rent plants for your co-working space with The Plant Man’s help
Most coworking operators don’t have someone responsible for plant care.
Community managers focus on members, events and day-to-day operations. Plants often fall to the bottom of the priority list, even when everyone agrees they improve the space.
Our indoor plant hire service takes care of that.
Most projects begin with a walk-through of the site. We’ll look at light levels, air-conditioning, traffic flow and the areas where greenery will have the greatest impact.
From there, we recommend suitable species and planter styles for the space. Installation can be scheduled outside of busy periods to minimise disruption to members and visitors.
After installation, we return regularly to:
- Water plants
- Clean foliage and planters
- Monitor plant health
- Check for pests
- Replace plants that are no longer performing well
Buying plants can seem less expensive than renting, but the maintenance and replacement costs soon add up.
We provide plant hire throughout Sydney, including the CBD, North Sydney, Parramatta, Macquarie Park, St Leonards, Chatswood, Alexandria and Mascot. You can also view examples of our commercial plant installation projects across a range of workplaces.
Find out how The Plant Man can enliven co-working spaces with beautiful greenery
Successful shared office space design takes more than selecting attractive furniture and finishes. The plants need to suit the conditions, the layout and the way people use the space every day.
If you’d like advice on plant selection or ongoing plant hire for your Sydney coworking space, book a free site walk-through with The Plant Man.
