Toyota Motor said on Thursday it has developed a new species of the cherry sage shrub family that effectively absorbs harmful substances in the air.

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According to Kyodo News, the automaker is promoting plants to purify air as part of its biotechnology business.


The new species, called kirsch pink, will be sold for 380 yen a pot through Toyota Roof Garden, a Toyota Motor subsidiary, from March next year. Sales are targeted at 10,000 pots for the year.


While Cherry Sage plants are known to absorb nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and other harmful substances in the air, the new species does so 1.3 times more effectively, the automaker told the news agency.


Kirsch Pink, which bears pink flowers between May and November, also eases the urban heat-island effect by 1.3 times, it said, according to Kyodo News.

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