Office plants do more than add greenery to a workplace. The right plants can help create a welcoming environment, support employee well-being, enhance first impressions, and strengthen a company's connection to biophilic design. 

This guide goes beyond plant selection to explore how strategic greenery can help create a positive atmosphere, support workplace experience, and strengthen connections between people and the spaces they use every day.

What are the best office plants for a welcoming workplace?

The best office plants support both workplace design and employee experience. Plants such as pothos, snake plants, ZZ plants, philodendrons, peace lilies, and palms are frequently used in commercial environments because they add greenery, enhance ambiance, and help create a stronger connection to nature.

Potted plants in a lounge area

How Can Office Plants Help Create More Welcoming Workspaces?

When people enter a workplace, they begin forming impressions almost immediately. From reception areas and conference rooms to collaborative spaces and employee lounges, every design element contributes to how a space feels and functions.

Thoughtfully selected office plants help create environments that feel more comfortable, balanced, and engaging for employees, customers, and visitors.

Various plants in geometric designed pots

Why Are Office Plants Important in Workplace Design?

Office plants contribute to much more than aesthetics.

Research from the University of Exeter found that incorporating plants into workplaces may help support employee well-being and engagement by creating more enriched environments. As a result, many organizations use office plants as part of a broader approach to creating environments that feel more welcoming, harmonious, and people-centered.

For businesses, office plants can help:

  • Create stronger first impressions of their brand identity
  • Support workplace wellness initiatives
  • Introduce biophilic design principles
  • Add color, texture, and visual interest
  • Enhance employee and visitor experiences in their commercial spaces
  • Reinforce a brand's commitment to quality and care

Creating a successful plant design strategy requires more than choosing attractive greenery. Factors such as placement, scale, lighting conditions, maintenance requirements, and the intended use of the space all influence which plants will perform best and how they contribute to the overall workplace experience. 

While every environment is unique, some office plants consistently stand out for their adaptability, visual appeal, and success in commercial settings. 

As a trusted partner in workplace design, Ambius helps organizations select plants that complement their environment while supporting broader goals related to employee well-being, experience, and aesthetics.

Snake plants in big pots

What Are the Top 10 Office Plants for Commercial Spaces?

1. Pothos

Pothos is one of the most versatile office plants available. Its trailing vines add softness and definition to reception desks, shelves, and common areas.

Best for: Reception areas and collaborative spaces

2. Snake Plant

Known for its upright growth and architectural appearance, the snake plant is well-suited to modern office environments.

Best for: Executive offices and conference rooms

3. ZZ Plant

ZZ plants tolerate a wide range of indoor conditions, making them a popular option for commercial interiors.

Best for: Low-light environments

4. Philodendron

Philodendrons offer lush foliage that helps create a warmer, more inviting atmosphere.

Best for: Employee lounges and shared spaces

5. Peace Lily

Peace Lilies introduce elegant blooms alongside rich green foliage.

Best for: Reception areas and waiting rooms

6. Rubber Plant

With its bold leaves and strong visual presence, the rubber plant makes a strong statement of nature and biophilic design.

Best for: Lobbies and open office layouts

7. Parlor Palm

Parlor palms bring a sense of sophistication, while fitting comfortably into a variety of design styles.

Best for: Hospitality-inspired office spaces

8. Aglaonema 

Available in multiple colors and patterns, Aglaonema adds visual variety without overwhelming a space.

Best for: Accents and reception areas

9. Dracaena

Dracaena varieties offer height and texture, making them valuable for defining spaces and adding dimension.

Best for: Entrances and corridors

10. Ficus Audrey

A modern favorite among designers, Ficus Audrey creates an elevated, contemporary look.

Best for: High-visibility focal point

Different indoor plants in an office

How Do Businesses Choose the Right Office Plants for Their Space?

The best office plant is not always the most popular one.

Successful plant design depends on several factors:

  • Available natural light
  • Temperature and HVAC conditions
  • Traffic patterns
  • Desired maintenance levels
  • Brand personality and identity
  • Existing interior design elements

Thoughtful plant placement can improve flow, highlight architectural features, create privacy, and support wayfinding throughout a space. But successful interior landscaping involves more than simply adding plants to an environment.

The most effective plant designs balance both aesthetics and functionality, using greenery to shape how people experience a space. Plants can help define open areas, absorb and diffuse sound, support workplace wellness initiatives, and contribute to environments that employees, customers, and visitors genuinely enjoy spending time in.

Because each space has unique lighting, different traffic patterns, and design goals based on its brand, many organizations partner with experts to develop customized interior landscaping solutions. Through consultation, design, installation, and ongoing plant care, Ambius helps businesses create environments that are both visually impactful and purposefully designed.

Indoor plants in tall pots

How Can Office Plants Support Biophilic Design?

Biophilic design is the practice of incorporating natural elements into built environments so spaces feel more comfortable, balanced, and human-centered.

In a commercial workplace, this can happen in many ways. Office plants may be the starting point, but they can also be part of a larger design strategy that uses greenery, texture, color, and natural forms to shape how people experience a space. 

Whether through interior landscaping, blooming plants, floral rotations, or larger features like living green walls, biophilic design can help transform offices into environments that feel more engaging and inviting to all who enter them.

For example, living green walls can introduce natural texture and visual impact without sacrificing valuable floor space. For organizations looking to expand beyond traditional office plants, Ambius can help create solutions such as interior landscaping, blooming programs, floral rotations, living green walls, and moss walls.

Man doing maintenance on a plant

Why Does Professional Plant Care Matter?

Even the best office plants require ongoing care and maintenance to remain healthy and visually appealing.

Without consistent maintenance, plants can experience:

Professional plant care helps businesses protect their investments while ensuring plants continue contributing positively to the workplace experience.

Ambius follows a comprehensive process that includes consultation, design, installation, and ongoing maintenance to help organizations create thriving plant environments that align with their goals and their brand identity.

Key Takeaways

  • Office plants help create more welcoming commercial environments for employees, customers, and visitors.
  • The best office plants combine visual appeal, adaptability, and long-term performance.
  • Successful plant design considers placement, scale, lighting conditions, and workplace goals.
  • Office plants are a foundational element of biophilic design strategies.
  • Professional plant care helps businesses maintain healthy, attractive interiors year-round.
Plants in a tall pot

How Can Office Plants Transform the Workplace Experience?

The best office plants are not simply decorative stand-alone elements. When thoughtfully incorporated into workplace design, they can create environments that feel more welcoming, balanced, and engaging for the people who use them every day.

As a trusted workplace design partner, Ambius helps organizations create environments that support both business goals and human experience.