Recently, Kamal Meattle discussed how to grow your own fresh air (http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kamal_meattle_on_how_to_grow_your_own_fresh_air.html) using three common plants. These are epipremnum aureum, sansevieria trifasciata, chrysalidocarpus lutescens (apologies for spelling errors). I wondered if these species were available in Vancouver? Are there other combinations, indigenous to this area, that would accomplish the same thing? Looking forward to your response!
I don't recognize the other botanical names but Sansevieria trifasciata or snake tongue plant. A quick google search reveals that Epipremnum aureum is pothos - another common houseplant. And Chrysalidocarpus lutescens is the yellow butterfly palm. These plants available in most garden centres and even places like Ikea and Home Depot. If you go to any garden centre and ask for help or even browse for store info sheets, you'll find more 'air cleaning' plants.
You should have no trouble finding these plants in the local stores. A book that deals with the subject is Eco-Friendly Houseplants: 50 indoor plants that purify the air in homes and offices by B.C. Wolverton. Its alternate title is How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 houseplants that purify your home or office. It can be found at the Vancouver Public Library. You'll likely find these same plants in the book.
