Indoor Plants Increase Worker Productivity
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, Dr. Virginia Lohr

Pullman, Washington --- A study conducted by the College of Agriculture at Washington State University (WSU) shows that live interior plants increase employee productivity and reduce stress.

The study, published in the "Journal of Environmental Horticulture," reports that productivity increased 12 percent when people performed tasks on a computer with plants, compared people who performed the same task in a room without plants.

Productivity was measured by the response time. Professor Virginia Lohr, Ph.D of WSU said, "there was no difference in the number of errors. The big difference was the reaction time, how quickly they pressed the correct key when the plants were present."

"Plants are not just fluff," says Dr. Lohr. "We have felt, and many people who work with plants intuitively believe, that having plants around is vital to our well-being."

For more information visit: www.wsu.edu/~lohr/

Indoor Plants Clean the Air
NASA Study, Dr. B.C. Wolverton

Washington D.C.-- NASA tests reveal that living green and flowering plants clean pollutants in the air.

According NASA scientist, Dr. BC Wolverton, indoor plants are the most efficient and cost effective means of removing air pollution. Wolverton recommends that "two plants per 100 square feet or two plants per a small office keep the air pure [and] healthy."

A 1989 EPA Report to Congress concluded that improved indoor air quality can result in higher productivity and fewer lost workdays. The EPA estimates that poor indoor air may cost the United States tens of billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and medical care.

For more information visit: www.wolvertonenvironmental.com

Health Benefits of Gardens in Hospitals
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY, Dr. Roger S. Ulrich

Prompted by soaring hospital construction cost, the College of Architecture and Medicine at Texas A&M University conducted a joint study on the influences of plants in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The study found that the presence of plants in hospitals improves client and staff satisfaction. Dr. Ulrich discovered that simply viewing nature and green garden scenes can relieve stress in 5 minutes or less.

For more information read, Dr. Ulrich Symposium

Plants Create a Consumer Habitat
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, Dr. Kathleen L. Wolf

Dr. Wolf studied the psychological impact of plants in shopping environments. Her report concludes that "the urban forest" is an "essential component" of any viable retail space.

For more information read, Dr. Wolf Symposium

What is interior landscaping?

Interior landscaping is the practice of designing, arranging, and caring for living plants in enclosed environments. Dr Delphinium calls this 'interior landscaping' even though land is not literally being reshaped. 'Interior landscaping' is an appropriate term because indoor environments contain plains, angles, and horizons that are softened, accentuated or altered by the addition of plants and planters-thus landscaping the interior. Similar to outdoor landscapes, interior landscapes provide spaces with ornament, color, sculptural elements, focal points, and an overall pleasant environment.

In the trade, interior landscaping is also known as plantscaping and interiorscaping. Interior landscape firms will use one of the three terms or a combination. While interior landscaping is an accurate description of this specialty, plantscape and interiorscape are words that were invented at the birth of the interior landscape industry to define the trade. Plantscape and interiorscape may have originated in the early 1970s as the name of interior landscape companies but have since then become generic phrases that describe the specialty.

Academics and authors tend to be aligned with one term set with their own definition. Richard Gains, AIA the author of Interior Plantscaping (1977), says he uses the term plantscapes to "differentiate from interior landscape office planning." Gains' plantscape definition is restricted to plants within enclosed structures. Nelson Hammer, ASLA author of Interior Landscapes: An American Design Portfolio of Green Environments (1999) features gardens inside buildings defined as 'interior landscapes'. Interestingly, Paul Cooper landscape architect and author of Interiorscapes: gardens within buildings (2003) extends his definition to include gardens that are "open to the air, as well as gardens that, although not contained by the architecture, are intrinsic to it." 'Interiorscape' is also the name of a trade magazine for the interior landscape community. In contrast of the tendency to favor one term, the cover of Interiorscape magazine bears the slogan "interior plantscaper's most read, most awarded information source since 1981." While the definitions differ, interior landscape, plantscape, and interiorscape are synonymous.

What is a Plant Designer?

Interior landscape professionals are called plant designers, plantscapers, interiorscapers, or in less formal settings 'scapers. Most often this person is called a plant designer.

Designing with live foliage requires a combination of horticultural and design expertise. Plant designers make decisions on the planter style, plant variety, scale, and light conditions. On new construction projects plant designers usually work under the direction of the architect, interior designer, or general contractor. Plant designers often have educational backgrounds in design or horticulture.

What is a specimen plant?

A specimen is an ornamental plant that serves as a focal point in a garden, lawn, or indoor landscape. Specimens are most often isolated in an open space rather than being grouped in a bed. Sculptural elements, woody trunks, age, size, and unusual bends are some of the many characteristics that a specimen plant may have.

When specifying plants for a space a Dr Delphinium designer will personally select the specimen that will make the desired impact. Dr Delphinium buyers regularly travel and maintain relationships with unique growers from around the world. Architects, interior designers, and property management professionals rely on Dr Delphinium to find specimen plants that provide a sculptural element for the room. These exceptional plants are often called "living art."