Plants that improve mental health and wellbeing

There are a number of plants and herbs that are scientifically proven to improve your happiness and wellbeing. From aroma to an ability to rid the air of harmful toxins:

Lavender

Lavender is well renowned for helping us sleep, with a number of sleep-related products including the herb, but did you know that it is also proven to improve your mood too?

Floral scents like lavender help to make you feel happier and can actually have a calming effect on your emotions. Lavender is proven to help you ease anxious feelings, so pairing this with the soothing nature of gardening, and you’re onto a winner.

Why not grow your own and reap multiple health benefits? Whilst shop-bought products are easily accessible, there’s nothing quite like the real thing, and lavender is extremely easy to look after and grow.

Basil

With its ability to vastly improve your mood, much like it improves almost any recipe you add it to, basil is a must if you’re looking for a plant that’s sure to have you happy in no time. Basil contains linalool, the component that gives the herb its distinct and pleasant aroma, which is proven to have a number of positive effects on the body.

Plant some basic seeds and start experiencing the benefits it brings in just a few months!

Spider Plants

If you’re short on outdoor space, you may be looking for an indoor plant to sit alongside your working set-up. In which case, Spider Plants should be at the top of your list.

Spider Plants have been proven to be an extremely efficient cleanser of air, with tests showing that the plant is capable of removing up to 90 per cent of potentially cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde from the air. Not only will this plant make you happier, but it’ll also make you much healthier.

Low maintenance and easy to grow, Spider Plants are ideal for gardening novices. Thanks to their cascading long leaves, they’re ideal for use in vertical spaces around your home.

Geraniums

Geraniums are well known for having a positive impact on the nervous system. Brewing the leaves of this plant produces a tasty tea that has soothing properties, balancing hormones that cause stress and anxiety. Not only is this plant perfect for making genuinely effective teas, its rich and warming aesthetic is complemented by a mild scent that promotes peace of mind.

Suitable to be grown both in and outdoors, this versatile plant offers you plenty of options. Whether you want to make use of Geraniums as a fantastic centrepiece for your bedding plants or want to place it pride of place in your living room window.

They simply require at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day and need to be protected from the cold where possible.

A little bird song, bees or butterflies floating by, the light breeze on your skin, the warmth of the sunshine on your face – there’s no denying that gardening is good for the soul. In fact, with a few deep breaths, it is hard to remember why you felt so stressed.

Information provided by Rhino Greenhouses www.greenhousesdirect.co.uk/