Peace Lily Plant

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a popular tropical evergreen houseplant known for its glossy dark-green leaves and distinctive white hood-like flowers.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

LEAVES: Broad, shiny, oval-shaped leaves that arch gracefully and taper to a point.

FLOWERS: The showy white part is a modified leaf called a spathe (resembling a white flag or sail), which wraps around a central flower spike called a spadix.

SIZE: Most indoor varieties grow between 1 to 4 feet tall and wide.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

NOT A TRUE LILY: It belongs to the arum family (Araceae) and is not a true lily from the Liliaceae family, meaning it lacks the severe kidney-failure toxins dangerous to cats. However, it does contain calcium oxalate and is mildly toxic if ingested.

AIR PURIFICATION: It helps clean indoor air by removing common household toxins like ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde.

WATER INDICATOR: Known as "drama queens," they dramatically droop when thirsty and quickly bounce back after a thorough watering.

CARE REQUIREMENTS

LIGHT: Thrives in bright, indirect sunlight, but tolerates low-light corners well. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the leaves.

WATER: Keep the soil evenly moist, allowing the top couple of inches to dry out between waterings.

TEMPERATURE: Prefers warm indoor environments between 68°F and 85°F (20°C to 29°C).