Who among us doesn't like getting flowers, especially when we're in the hospital? But besides brightening our room and our mood, the gift of a flowering plant may also in a small way help our recovery, according to a new study.

The study looked at 90 patients recuperating from surgery to remove their appendix. Some had potted flowering plants in their room and some didn't. Researchers found that the patients with plants needed fewer painkillers after their operation. They also had a lower heart rate and blood pressure, suggesting they were more relaxed. Questionnaires showed that people with plants felt less anxious, were less likely to say they were in pain, and were less tired. Almost all said that the vegetation was the nicest thing about their room. In contrast, the people who didn’t have plants said their TV was the best thing about their room.

This is an interesting study, but it can't say for sure whether it was the plants that helped patients or possibly something else. Also, the differences between the two groups were notable but small, and having plants in their rooms didn’t mean that patients went home from the hospital any earlier. Even so, the patients said they enjoyed having the plants around, and this alone may be reason enough for a trip to the florist.

What you need to know. If you’re visiting someone in the hospital, a flowering plant may be an ideal get-well gift in more ways than one. But try to steer clear of anything that has a strong scent or might trigger an allergy. Also, some hospitals and hospital wards discourage visitors from bringing plants and flowers because of concerns about infection. So it's best to check with the hospital before sprucing up the scenery with a little greenery.

—Sophie Ramsey, patient editor, BMJ Group

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