Are plants good for your mental health?

By Blua | Digital health by Bupa

5 minute read

Published 24 August 2025

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Key takeaways

Spending time around plants, indoors or outdoors, can help reduce stress, anxiety and low mood.
Caring for indoor plants has been linked to improved mental wellbeing and emotional balance.
Adding greenery to your space is a simple, low-cost way to feel more connected and calmer.

Indoor plants don’t just brighten your home, they might boost your mental wellbeing, too.

From calming stress to improving mood, research suggests spending time around plants can be good for your head and your heart.

What’s the link between plants and mental health?

We’ve long known that being in nature is good for us. Spending time in green spaces like parks or gardens can lower anxiety, improve mood, and even support better sleep.¹ But you don’t need to leave the house to get the benefits.

Evidence is growing that even having indoor plants nearby may help. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, researchers found students who had access to greenery indoors reported better mental health outcomes.² Other studies suggest that simply caring for indoor plants can reduce stress.³

Nature as therapy

Nature-based therapies are increasingly being used to support people living with anxiety, depression or high stress levels. Some of these include:

Gardening
Group walks in green spaces
Forest bathing
Mindfulness in nature
Animal-assisted therapy
Horticulture therapy
Outdoor exercise
Wilderness therapy
Conservation programs

While some of these may be prescribed by a mental health professional, you don’t need a formal program to get started. Simply being outside, moving your body in green spaces or caring for plants at home can help you feel more grounded, present and emotionally balanced.

Thinking of adding plants to your home?

Bringing plants into your home doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. But before you rush to the nursery, take a moment to think about your space and lifestyle.

Here are 4 things to consider:

Where will they live?
Look for spots in your home that feel bare, dull or lifeless. A leafy addition could lift the energy of a room.
Do you have enough space?
It’s easy to go overboard. Make sure you’re not adding clutter—clear space so your plants (and you) can breathe.
What kind of look do you want?
Do you want a statement piece, or something small and subtle? This can guide the size, type and number of plants you choose.
What will work for your lifestyle?
Chat to your local nursery about plants that suit your lighting, care needs and household. Some plants can be harmful to pets or children if ingested, so it’s best to ask for safe options.

Choosing the right plant for you

If you’re new to indoor gardening, start simple. Look for low-maintenance plants that are easy to care for and hard to kill.

Some good beginner options include:

Mother-in-law’s tongue (snake plant)
Peace lily
Succulents or cacti
Heartleaf philodendron
Devil’s ivy
Zanzibar gem (ZZ plant)

Nursery staff can help you pick the right plants for your needs and your space.

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At Bupa, trust is everything

Our health and wellbeing information is regularly reviewed and maintained by a team of healthcare experts, to ensure its relevancy and accuracy. Everyone's health journey is unique and health outcomes vary from person to person.

This content is not a replacement for personalised and specific medical, healthcare, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your health, see your doctor or other health professional.

¹Jimenez, M. P., DeVille, N. V., Elliott, E. G., Schiff, J. E., Wilt, G. E., Hart, J. E., & James, P. (2021). associations between nature exposure and health: a review of the evidence. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4790.

²Dzhambov, A. M., Lercher, P., Browning, M. H. E. M., Stoyanov, D., Petrova, N., Novakov, S., & Dimitrova, D. D. (2021). Does greenery experienced indoors and outdoors provide an escape and support mental health during the COVID-19 quarantine?. Environmental research, 196, 110420.

³Lee, Ms., Lee, J., Park, BJ. et al. Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study. J Physiol Anthropol 34, 21 (2015).