Research
shows the importance of plant choice
 Office
workers have demonstrated in the past that they prefer indoor
plants to other forms of ornamentation in their offices (Brookes,
1992) and that they perceive an indoor space as more welcoming,
cheerful, relaxing and comfortable when surrounded by plants
(Stiles, 1995, Krampen, 1998, Fjeld, 2000). In addition, market
research conducted in the USA shows that many managers believe
that interior plants help them to hold on to their employees
(Landicho 2000).
However, to make the most of these benefits you should involve
staff in plant selection. That is the conclusion of recent
research by Bianca Roeben, who completed “ A study into
office plant choice as a human resource strategy” in
2001, as part of her BSc (Hons) in Horticulture at Writtle
College, England.
Those involved in
designing and furnishing buildings usually select and distribute
plants without any kind of involvement from the people who
occupy the space. However, Roeben found that the overwhelming
majority of office workers rated plants above most other “decorative”
office items (table 1) and would prefer to choose the plants
used in their working space. They felt that giving them choice
had a positive effect on them and gave them “ownership”
of their work environment.
The research also gave some insight into the type and number
of plants people would choose. On average, office workers
selected four plants and tended to place them so that they
would be able to see the foliage when sitting at their desk,
with at least one plant visible to anyone entering the room.
There was some indication that plant and container preference
varies between men and women (tables 2 and 3), although this
particular part of the research has to be treated with caution.
Some plants were undoubtedly chosen as much for their size
and practicality in the available space as for their appearance.
Roeben concluded that office plant
choice is a way of recognising an individual’s needs.
This can act as a motivator and clearly does have a place
in human resource management.
1. Order of popularity
for a choice of ten different office items
| Order of popularity |
Office
item |
| 1 |
Desks |
| 2 |
Chairs |
| 3 |
Computer |
| 4 |
Lighting |
| 5 |
Paint colour |
| 6 |
Plants |
| 7 |
Blinds / curtains |
| 8 |
Filing cabinets |
| 9 |
Flooring |
| 10 |
Pictures for the wall |
2. Order of popularity of some common containers
| Order
of popularity (genders combined) |
Container
type |
Order
of popularity with women |
Order
of popularity with men |
| 1 |
Vietnamese
ceramic
|
3 |
1 |
| 2 |
"Cubis"
|
1 |
3= |
| 3 = |
"Elite"
|
2 |
5 |
| 3 = |
"Elegance"
|
4= |
2 |
| 5 |
"Olympic"
|
6= |
3= |
| 6 |
"Classic"
|
4= |
6 |
| 7 |
Terracotta
|
6= |
7 |
| |
«Vietnamese
ceramic containers, favoured by men in the study |
"Cubis"
tall, tapered containers, favoured by women in the study»
|
|
3. Order of
popularity of thirty common indoor plants
| Order
of popularity (genders combined) |
Plant
species |
Order
of popularity with women |
Order
of popularity with men |
| 1= |
Howea forsteriana |
7= |
1 |
| 1= |
Cordyline "atoom" |
2= |
2 |
| 3 |
Epipremnum aureum |
1 |
4= |
| 4 |
Aechmea fasciata |
2= |
3 |
| 5 |
Guzmania sp. |
2= |
4= |
| 6 |
Ficus benjamina |
7= |
4= |
| 7 |
Dracaena marginata |
5 |
15= |
| 8= |
Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa" |
9= |
8= |
| 8= |
Selaginella "Jori" |
6 |
15= |
| 10= |
Ficus lingua |
9= |
11= |
| 10= |
Stromanthe "Triostar" |
9= |
11= |
| 12= |
Nephrolepis exaltata |
14= |
8= |
| 12= |
Crassula ovata |
20= |
4= |
| 14= |
Polyscias fruticosa |
20= |
8= |
| 14= |
Phoenix roebelenii |
14= |
11= |
| 14= |
Calathea "Wavestar" |
14= |
11= |
| 17 |
Asplenium nidus |
14= |
15= |
| 18 |
Ficus cyathistipula |
12= |
19= |
| 19= |
Polyscias balfouriana |
12= |
24= |
| 19= |
Cordyline stricta |
14= |
19= |
| 21= |
Schefflera actinophylla "Amate" |
14= |
24= |
| 21= |
Phoenix canariensis |
20= |
19= |
| 21= |
Chamaedorea elegans |
24= |
18 |
| 24= |
Musa "Bananarama" |
24= |
19= |
| 24= |
Sansevieria trifasciata "Laurentii" |
24= |
19= |
| 26= |
Dracaena deremensis "Warneckii" |
20= |
29= |
| 26= |
Philodendron erubescens "Imperial
red" |
24= |
24= |
| 28= |
Ficus benghalensis "Velvet" |
28= |
24= |
| 28= |
Dracaena deremensis "Compacta" |
28= |
24= |
| 30 |
Aglaonema "Pataya beauty" |
28= |
29= |
| |
|
Howea forsteriana, the Kentia
palm. Most popular with men in the study |
Epipremnum aureum, Devil's Ivy.
Most popular with women in the study |
|
