Office floor plants are a fantastic choice for freshening up a workplace and have been elevating indoor spaces for centuries. They turn an ordinary corner into a vibrant focal point or create an impressive pathway for potential clients to admire.
They’re incredibly flexible, working beautifully as a single statement piece or as part of a larger display and can be tailored to suit any office style or atmosphere. Their versatility and lasting appeal make them perfect for any workspace.
Why Floor Plants Are Perfect for Offices
Big, leafy plants do more than fill empty corners with colour and life:
- Cleaner air – A 2023 study from the University of Technology Sydney found that a green wall inside a building removed 97 per cent of harmful chemicals like benzene from the air in just eight hours. This means fresher, healthier air for everyone.
- Less noise – Their broad leaves serve a practical purpose by naturally absorbing and scattering sound waves, contributing to a quieter office environment. This can help your workplace stay within the 85 dB noise limit, ensuring a more serene setting.
- Aesthetic appeal – A well-placed pot plant instantly catches the eye. It can help guide people through a space and create an inviting atmosphere in reception areas.
- Better focus and productivity – Bringing nature indoors, known as biophilic design, is linked to less fatigue and faster task completion. This has a subtle but positive impact on your staff’s daily work.
The best office floor plants pay for themselves by reducing sick days and sharpening minds.
Steps to Choosing the Best Floor Plant
Deciding on the right greenery can feel tricky. Still, a few simple checks will help you select the most suitable office floor plants to brighten your workspace and boost productivity.
Consider the environment
Your first task is to choose office floor plants that suit their surroundings. Begin by listing the conditions in each spot, like temperature changes, proximity to air vents and how much natural light comes in. Consider:
- Is the area warm or cool?
- Is it near an air conditioner or heating vent that might create drafts?
- Does it receive full, partial or no natural light?
By carefully placing each plant in its ideal spot, your office pot plants will thrive without constant attention and remain vibrant features in your workspace.
Don’t forget about aesthetics
A plant that clashes with your décor can stand out for the wrong reasons, so consider its form in addition to its function.
For example, the lush elegance of a Kentia Palm in a woven floor pot perfectly suits an older building with period architecture and wooden floors. In contrast, the clean lines and simple colours of a Snake Plant in a square concrete pot work wonderfully in a modern, minimalist workspace.
When selecting the best office pot plants, choose a consistent style and stick to it. Mixing a tropical palm with a continental shrub can create an unbalanced look rather than a cohesive space.
Selecting the right pot
When it comes to choosing indoor plants that double as a room’s focal point, the pot is just as crucial as the plant itself. Mirror the boldness of your tall plants with a striking pot in a complementary colour. Or, if you prefer your greenery to blend seamlessly, opt for minimalist pots in neutral tones. The right pot elevates even the best office floor plants, turning them into true centrepieces that enhance wellbeing and productivity.
Best Indoor Floor Plants
Whether you’re after a tall, elegant plant to brighten a forgotten corner or a bold statement piece to turn heads, these are some of the best indoor floor plants for modern workspaces.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
With its glossy, violin-shaped leaves, the Fiddle Leaf Fig makes a striking addition to any office. This indoor floor plant can reach an impressive 3 metres tall indoors, needing only moderate moisture and partial shade. If your meeting room has an empty corner, this fast-growing beauty is a strong candidate for your office’s plant collection.
Happy Plant
The Happy Plant, with its streaked light and dark green leaves, hails from tropical Africa. A beautiful and popular choice for larger pots, it can reach up to two metres tall. Preferring sunlight and warmer temperatures, it’s one of the best options for sun-filled spots with room to spread.
Money Tree
Looking at this tropical indoor plant, it’s easy to see why many cultures consider it a symbol of luck. In nature, the Money Tree can reach 18 metres, but it stays a manageable 1.8 metres indoors. Place your office’s Money Tree in bright but indirect light and watch as it quickly becomes one of your best office floor plants.
Madagascar Dragon Tree
The Madagascar Dragon Tree has been a staple of the indoor plant world since the 60s, thanks to its drought-tolerant and ‘nearly indestructible’ reputation. Its spiky, sword-like leaves tipped with red bring an exotic feel to any workspace aiming for a rustic look.
If its dramatic form appeals to you, choose a brightly lit spot, as this bold option thrives in the sunshine and adds personality to any room.
Rubber tree
The resilient rubber tree is a tropical evergreen, famous for its glossy, waxy leaves. Native to South Asia, it prefers warm spaces with 6–8 hours of bright, indirect light daily. To mimic its tropical habitat, water more often in summer and use well-draining soil.
Beyond making a statement, rubber trees are also air-purifying indoor plants that cleanse the air while adding a sculptural touch. Introduce one to your office for an air purifier that doubles as a living art piece.
Low-Maintenance Floor Plants
Keen to add greenery but worried about your plant-care skills? Here are some of our favourite low-maintenance plants that suit any workplace.
Snake Plant
The Sansevieria, also known as the Snake Plant or Mother-in-law’s Tongue, is remarkably resilient. With bold, upright leaves shooting straight from the soil, it’s perfect for even those without a green thumb.
It’s best to let the soil dry out completely before watering again. This hardy plant is drought-tolerant, needing water only once a month during winter and fortnightly for the rest of the year.
Peace Lily
Flowering with elegant white blooms against deep green leaves, the Peace Lily is ideal for smaller pots and low-light corners. It’s one of the best choices for creating a lavish look with minimal effort. Water regularly and keep it in a bright spot away from direct sunlight to help it thrive.
Floor Plants for Low Light
Working in an office with little natural light? These indoor plants for windowless offices are hardy enough to transform even the darkest workspace.
Kentia Palm
Native to Australia, the Kentia Palm brings a relaxed, island feel to any space. It grows slowly and steadily, thriving in both bright and low-light conditions. This makes it one of the best office floor plants for workspaces that need a touch of nature without constant attention. Its elegant form and adaptable nature make it a popular choice for creating a serene atmosphere.
Monstera
You can’t talk about the best office pot plants without mentioning the iconic Monstera, also known as the ‘Swiss Cheese Plant’. Known for its striking split leaves, this tropical vine prefers its soil to dry out between waters and dislikes soggy conditions.
Choosing Plants vs Professional Plant Hire
Buying plants seems simple until pests, droopy leaves and summer holidays become an issue. With professional hire services, you benefit from:
- Carefully selected plants in premium planters
- Regular visits for watering, feeding and grooming
- Swift replacement of any plants that start to decline, protecting your brand image
In contrast, buying plants yourself can lead to wasted budgets and wilted greenery that can lower staff morale.
Why Choose The Plant Man for Your Office Floor Plants
Since 1991, The Plant Man has been transforming Sydney workspaces with tailored plant-scaping solutions. Our expert horticulturists assess light, layout and style to design and install office floor plants that meet compliance standards and make a stunning impression on both clients and staff.
With our regular professional maintenance included, every leaf stays healthy and spotless. This ensures your team enjoys all the wellbeing and productivity benefits with no extra effort required.
Want to transform your office into an indoor oasis through the power of floor plants? Get in touch with The Plant Man to speak with a plant hire specialist and find out how our expert maintenance services can breathe new life into your workplace.
