+38%
elderly people who received flowers had better episodic memory
Exact: M = 1.06 vs M = 0.77
Elderly participants who received flowers scored higher on episodic memory tasks than those who did not
Episodic memory was assessed by asking participants to recall details of social events recorded in their daily logs and details of the booklets used, scored for specificity. The memory benefit for flower recipients was statistically highly significant (p = 0.001), suggesting that the positive mood induced by flowers had secondary cognitive benefits even in an older adult population prone to memory decline.
The difference in memory score between these two groups is highly significant. ( t (3) = 3.75, p = 0.001; M = 0.77, SD = 0.88, no flowers condition; M = 1.06, SD = 0.88, flower condition).
Related findings
+0.10 SD
better overall cognitive function after ecological zone policy
NKEFZs implementation improved overall cognitive function by 0.0993 standard deviations
Jia Tang et al., 2025, Social Science & Medicine
24 sessions
length of the garden-based healing and learning program delivered to young adults with intellectual disabilities
A 24-session, three-month garden-based program improved psychological stability, social relationships, and individual capabilities in YAwID
Dohun Kim et al., 2025, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
+0.5
greater self-reported attentiveness with indoor plants present
Participants in the room with plants reported feeling 0.5 points more attentive (on a 1–5 scale) after completing the task
Virginia I. Lohr et al., 1996, Journal of Environmental Horticulture
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