Plants in the workplace: why they really matter and how to choose the right ones
You walk into an office. It's morning, light filters through the windows, and there's a computer, a cup, and the day's papers on the desk. And in one corner, quietly, there's a plant with broad, glossy leaves. You didn't notice it right away, but your eyes have returned to it three times in ten minutes. You feel a little more at ease without knowing why. This is what biophilic design calls the restorative effect: our biological response, inherited from thousands of years of connection with nature, to the plants around us. It's not an aesthetic flourish. It's a tool for organizational well-being, with measurable effects on productivity, perceived stress, indoor air quality, and the image your space conveys to clients who walk in. In this article, we'll tell you what scientific research really says, what changes for people working in a space with greenery, and how we approach—with a precise method—the selection of the right plants for every environment. Because every office is different, and supplying plants isn't enough: you need to offer advice. Our practical approach starts by listening to your needs. To choose, you can start with our selection of office plants.
What the research says: why plants matter in the office
Plants in work environments significantly increase worker productivity when introduced into offices that previously lacked natural elements, improving concentration, reducing physiological stress, and optimizing perceived air quality by regulating humidity and reducing discomfort caused by dry air.
Scientific literature over the past ten years has transformed the perception of greenery from a simple decorative element into a strategic asset for organizational well-being. Biophilia, our innate tendency to seek connections with nature, is not an abstract concept but a biological reality that directly impacts business performance.
According to the Nieuwenhuis et al. 2014 study, conducted by the universities of Cardiff, Groningen, and Queensland, enriching a "bare" office with live plants leads to a significant increase in employee engagement. It's not just about aesthetics: workers feel more physically and mentally supported by their surroundings.
Another landmark study, published by de Vries et al. 2023, monitored 9 different organizations and found that the presence of indoor greenery dramatically reduces problems related to indoor air quality (IAQ), such as dry mouth or eye irritation, while also increasing the sense of privacy and the attractiveness of the workspace.
Finally, the study published in Sage Journals 2025 showed that after just one hour of working in a room with plants, participants had lower systolic blood pressure and heart rates than those working in sterile environments. These findings confirm that greenery acts as a regulator of cortisol, the stress hormone, promoting a more relaxed work environment.
What research says about plants in workplaces
| Documented effect | Primary source |
|---|---|
| Up to a 15% increase in perceived productivity in previously bare offices | Nieuwenhuis et al. 2014 study (Cardiff, Groningen, Queensland) |
| Reduced symptoms caused by dry air, increased perceived attractiveness of the space | de Vries et al. 2023 study of 9 organizations (PMC) |
| Reduced perceived stress and fatigue after an hour of work | Sage Journals 2025 (physiological measurements of blood pressure and heart rate) |
| Improved relative humidity and reduction of some VOCs in the air | Han & Ruan Review 2020 (PMC) |
| Positive effect on satisfaction and sense of belonging in the space | Politecnico di Milano Study — biophilic design in workplaces |
Recommended products for you
Well-being and concentration: the effect on people who work there
The impact of plants on the human mind follows the Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan), which suggests that natural environments allow the brain to recover from the cognitive fatigue accumulated during tasks that require intense, focused attention. In the office, this translates into greater mental clarity.
When you look at a plant, even for just a few seconds, your brain experiences a "visual micro-break." Unlike a screen or a complex document, the fractal structure of leaves requires no active processing effort, allowing the brain's attention networks to rest. This mechanism is essential for those managing heavy workloads in professional offices or creative agencies.
Moreover, interacting with greenery has an immediate calming effect. A Japanese study (Toyoda 2020) showed that caring for a small desk plant for just three minutes a day significantly lowers heart rate. It is the act of "caring" that reconnects workers with a sense of vitality, improving their overall well-being and sense of belonging in the workplace.
An office filled with lush plants quietly communicates that the company cares about the environment and, by extension, the people who work there. This improves the perception of environmental comfort and reduces the sense of alienation typical of large modern open-plan offices, where concrete and glass often dominate.
Recommended products for you
The quiet aesthetic: how plants change the perception of space
Plants are dynamic architectural elements. Unlike a piece of furniture or a painting, a plant grows, moves with air currents, and interacts with natural light, creating shadows that change throughout the day. This dynamism breaks up the geometric rigidity of contemporary offices.
At our in-house botanical design studio, Le Officine dei Giardini di Giulia, we study how greenery can add visual depth to flat walls. A tall Ficus lyrata, properly positioned, can transform an anonymous corner into a focal point that guides the eye and defines the room's volumes. Similarly, trailing plants on tall shelving soften the hard lines of technical furnishings.
Then there's the acoustic aspect. Although plants cannot replace professional sound-absorbing panels, their presence helps reduce perceived sound reverberation. Leaf surfaces break up sound waves, making the space less "echoey" and more muted, improving conversation quality and acoustic privacy.
Finally, the choice of species defines the company's style code. A Monstera deliciosa conveys creativity and openness, ideal for an atelier or a fashion showroom. By contrast, an orderly arrangement of Sansevieria (Dracaena trifasciata) conveys rigor, stability, and modernity, perfect for a law firm or a bank headquarters. Greenery is an integral part of brand identity.
Recommended products for you
The first customer walks in: what they see, what they feel, what they remember
First impressions are formed in the very first seconds of entering a new environment. In this very brief moment, the customer's or visitor's brain forms an implicit judgment about the organization's reliability and professionalism. Live plants are a powerful sign of care and vitality.
Research in the hospitality and retail sectors confirms that natural greenery increases the perceived quality of service. A hotel or restaurant that invests in real plants communicates an attention to detail that artificial plants can never match. In fact, the human brain instantly recognizes plastic: a fake plant can convey a message of superficiality or lack of authenticity.
In corporate offices and showrooms, greenery acts as a nonverbal communications asset, active 24 hours a day. It tells the story of a company that looks to the future, respects life, and invests in its employees’ well-being. This translates into greater client confidence, as they perceive the space as welcoming and restorative.
The cost of a carefully curated supply and its ongoing maintenance is more than repaid by the added value it brings to your image. A client who feels at ease in a professional office is more likely to listen and negotiate. In this sense, greenery facilitates human and professional relationships.
Recommended products for you
Our method: the interview before supply
As an Italian company, we’ve learned that the success of a green installation doesn’t depend on how beautiful a plant looks in the greenhouse, but on how well it suits its intended space. That’s why our method includes a thorough consultation before every delivery.
We’re not just commodity suppliers. When you contact us about a green installation service for businesses, the first step is always a brief introductory interview of about 20-30 minutes. This allows us to map the critical factors that will determine the long-term survival and beauty of your investment.
During this phase of green office design, we analyze five key areas, summarized in the following table. Without this information, any proposal would just be a gamble, and we don't like to gamble with the lives of our plants.
The five questions in our discovery interview
| Area | What we ask | Why it's crucial |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Floor area, window exposure, air conditioning, humidity, ceiling height | Determines which species can really thrive there |
| People | Who works in the space, their schedules, allergies, and whether there are pets | Some plants aren't suitable for certain settings |
| Care | Who waters the plants, how often, and whether our maintenance service is needed | No plant can survive without care; the right care depends on the species |
| Aesthetics | The space's visual identity, colors, materials, and the tone you want to convey | Plants are part of an organization's language |
| Budget | Realistic initial investment + three-year cycle | Avoid proposals that aren't financially viable in the medium term |
Recommended products for you
True customization: why every space needs its own plants
Customization isn't just about the color of the pot; it's about applying plant physiology to architecture. An office with large north-facing windows, for example, gets cool, steady light, but never direct sunlight. In this setting, a Ficus lyrata would quickly struggle, while an Asplenium nidus or various varieties of broad-leafed indoor plants would thrive.
If the space has poor natural lighting, we need to choose plants for low-light spaces such as Zamioculcas zamiifolia or Sansevieria, which have extremely slow metabolisms and are hardy. On the other hand, an office with south-facing glass walls can become an oven in summer: here, we need species that can tolerate radiant heat without their leaves burning, such as some varieties of Euphorbia or Strelitzia nicolai, if suitably shaded.
The intended use is also crucial. In a haute couture atelier, where clients touch the fabrics and move among the furnishings, we avoid plants that release irritating latex or have thorns, preferring upright, clean silhouettes. In a luxury hotel, on the other hand, we look for “visual impact”: large specimens that won’t get lost beneath the double-height ceilings of the lobbies.
Recommended products for you
Giving good advice, even if it means turning down an order
The ethics of our catalog are based on transparency. More than once, we’ve had to say no. A client might ask us for twenty beautiful Howea forsteriana (Kentia palms) for their open-plan office, but if our conversation reveals that the air conditioning is blowing directly onto the spots where they’ll be placed, we know those plants will die within a few months. Kentia palms hate cold, dry drafts.
In these cases, we explain the problem from a technical standpoint and suggest an alternative that could work, such as an arrangement of Aspidistra elatior, known for its legendary hardiness. If the client insists on the wrong aesthetic solution at the expense of plant health, we prefer to decline the order. A struggling plant conveys neglect and failure, the exact opposite of the well-being we want to promote.
We would rather lose an order today than deal with an unhappy customer tomorrow. This consistency has allowed us, as third-generation nursery growers, to build decades-long relationships of trust with companies and professional firms that know they can count on our integrity. We don’t sell plants: we design greenery for a space. And if the space isn’t suitable, the solution isn’t to force nature, but to change our approach.
In conclusion, integrating plants into workplaces is a forward-thinking choice that touches deep-seated aspects of our biology. But it requires method, attentive listening, and botanical expertise. Done well, it transforms the office into a living ecosystem where people work better and clients feel welcome. Done poorly, it's just plastic struggling to breathe.
Request your professional consultation
If you're thinking of bringing plants into your office, studio, or atelier, we won't offer you a catalog. First, we'll ask you a few questions to understand how you work, who will take care of the plants, and what you want to convey. Only then will we present the right proposal for your space. You can write to us at info@igiardinidigiulia.live to schedule an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Do office plants really improve productivity?
According to the 2014 study by Nieuwenhuis et al., adding live plants to a previously austere office significantly increases employee engagement and perceived productivity. Other research also points to fewer problems related to dry air and reduced physiological stress.
Which plants should you choose for an office with little light?
Zamioculcas zamiifolia and snake plants are suitable for spaces with little natural light, as they are slow-growing and hardy. Under north-facing windows with cool but consistent light, an Asplenium nidus or other broad-leaved indoor plants will thrive, while a fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) would struggle.
How does a consultation for an office planting project work?
The first step is an introductory interview lasting about 20-30 minutes, covering five areas: space, people, care, aesthetics, and budget. Each proposal is then based on a floor plan marked with areas of light, shade, and air conditioning; only after that are the plant species selected.
Why isn't the Kentia palm suitable near air conditioning?
The Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) is sensitive to cold, dry drafts: if the air conditioning blows directly onto where it is placed, the plant may die within a few months. In these cases, you can suggest a hardier alternative, such as an arrangement of cast-iron plants (Aspidistra elatior).
Can artificial plants replace real ones in a corporate office?
No: the human brain immediately recognizes plastic, and an artificial plant can convey superficiality or a lack of authenticity. Live plants, on the other hand, communicate care and vitality, increase the perceived quality of service, and build trust among clients and visitors.
You might also be interested in:
