Commonly called dumb cane, this plant is a smart choice for someone who wants to add a large, attractive, air-cleaning plant to their indoor environment at home or at the office. This herbaceous perennial, a native of the tropics, has upright stems that unfurl large, medium green leaves heavily mottled with creamy yellow. It purifies the surrounding air by filtering out airborne toxins. Keep its soil moist but refrain from overwatering and making it soggy, which can lead to stem rot. As the bottom leaves brown, trim them off to keep the plant tidy. Sap from the leaves causes mouth tissues to swell if chewed, so keep away from small children and pets. Dieffenbachia compacta