The Peace Lily Plant or Spathiphyllum, first came to Europe in 1824 when it was discovered by Gustav Wallis in the Colombian jungle. Wallis is remembered for his discovery in the Peace Lily's Latin name of S. Wallis.
It's a reasonably cheap plant to buy and its enduring popularity means it can be found in almost every shop that sells houseplants. In fact we'd go as far as saying it's likely one of the top five most popular houseplants.
The raised spathe looking like a white flag of surrender seeking peace.
Over the years, so many have just slipped into our care and between us we own more than 20 individual plants! Our motto is that you can never have too many of these plants (or houseplants in general).
The reasons people love this plant should be obvious. Great for beginners as it's simple to care for with easy to follow care instructions. It will also help filter the surrounding air of various toxins.
Oh did we forget to mention the beautiful and elegant part? With the striking contrast of the dark green foliage and the creamy white flowers held high on stiff stems it holds it's own well and looks attractive in all types of homes and design schemes.
Did You Know? - When it comes to the meaning of the "Peace" part of its name this is down to the flowers with the white raised spathe looking like a white flag of surrender seeking peace.
Many people call it a "Peaceful Lily" and perhaps surprisingly it also makes for a common funeral plant. Check out the comments at the end of the article with lots of visitors telling us they received them as gifts when a loved one died. They have a lot of sentimental value to people, so spend some time reading our care guide below to help keep yours growing at its best.
Before the instructions, let's take a quick look at two commonly asked questions which this houseplant seems permanently tied to - "What plants like dark places?" and "Why won't my Peace Lily Bloom again?".
"The Peace Lily plant grows in dark places" - This isn't completely wrong, but it's a misleading myth. Many plants will be reasonably happy in darker places but this is ultimately confusing a surviving plant with one that would positively thrive in different conditions.
The Peace Lily is no different. If you put it in a bright spot without direct sunlight, growth will be more rapid and robust compared to a plant being grown in a dark place. Of course if you do choose to grow it in a darker area in your home, as the common stereotype states, it will survive, adapt and grow (albeit slowly).
The blooms can really extend the size and reach of the plant.
If you're looking to fill such a void then you could do far worse than this plant. It has lush green foliage and a clever trick to let you know when it needs watering. If conditions are favorable you will get tall, brilliant white flowers several times a year which seem to float above the plant like mini clouds. And speaking of Flowers, let's take a look at the second most common question we get asked.
"How do I get my Peace Lily to bloom again?" is the next most frequently asked question - A well cared for Spathiphyllum can be expected to produce several flowers a year. When we say several we really do mean several, as in one to three flowers at any one time.
More numerous blooms are rare and it's almost impossible to achieve at home no matter how great your care. It's a commonly asked question because most people have brought a Peace Lily from a shop when it's literally surrounded by blooms.
They last for several months before eventually going green and then dying off, then when the same number of flowers don't return in the future, people automatically assume they're doing something wrong care wise. You're not.
That first beautiful flush of flowers you had is a result of expert nurseries growing them in a special way
The good news is that if your Peace Lily plant looks healthy, chances are you're treating it exactly as you should.
The bad news is that the first crazy but beautiful flush of flowers you had when you took it out of the store is a result of expert nurseries growing them in a special way. Not because they've given perfect light levels, kept the plant slightly pot bound or have watered the plants with rainwater (although all three of these things will help at home), but because they've cheated.
Well maybe "cheated" is too harsh, more like, they've done something which people at home could never normally do, they've used gibberellic acid. Gibberellic acid is a plant hormone that Spathiphyllum is somewhat sensitive to, once applied it triggers the plant to produce blooms. Lots and lots of blooms.
Plant hormones are like steroids for that muscular but slightly aggressive guy down the gym; they produce fantastic results, but are unnaturally used to create the end result. So if you're worrying about why you can't come close to replicating the results of the nurseries that's the reason why.
You might be thinking "Wow, what's the point of keeping these plants if the blooms never come back like this again. I want to throw it out and get something else!".
No you don’t. You love your plant. Here’s why.
There are a few different varieties of Peace Lily, including a variegated called Spathiphyllum 'Diamond'
Don't forget you can definitely get the plant to rebloom and again we'd reiterate once more there is more to a Peace Lily than just the flowers. And with that out of the way let's move on to the care guide.
Hi, I'm Tom!
If you're like me and enjoy the challenge of growing houseplants and getting them to thrive, then Ourhouseplants can help. This website shares my knowledge and years of growing plants and provides (hopefully) helpful advice on properly caring for your indoor plant friends.
As mentioned in the introduction above, darker spots are acceptable for a Peace Lily but don't assume this is what it needs. If given the choice a bright spot avoiding any direct sunlight is much better.
I have found direct sunlight can cause some serious damage to the leaves so do try and keep them away from intense light.
Always popular and a beautiful and stylish plant to have in your home.
Try to keep the soil just moist at all times, but if you're pretty forgetful, you just need to watch the plant for visual hints of when to water.
When it's happy it looks like the picture on the left, when it needs water it flops over as shown in the picture on the right. When you water, soak the plant but don't let it "sit" in water. If you're having problems with the plant it's likely to be linked to your watering technique. Check out the problem section further down for hints and clues.
Use the slider below to tap / swipe back and forth to see the difference between a correctly watered and underwatered plant
Use the slider above to tap / swipe back and forth to see the difference between a correctly watered and underwatered plant
Here is another photo to show you the watered / underwatered differences.
Once you've had this plant for a while it's very easy to see when it needs water
If you've very low humidity on a constant basis it will cause you problems in the longer term, so try to increase the humidity in these places. Otherwise the occasional misting is all it needs.
Like the water requirements the plant will tell you when you're getting it wrong; too much fertilizer will cause brown spots on the leaves, and too little will result in no flowers and poor growth (assuming the light conditions are bright).
To prevent things getting to this stage though, aim to feed with a weak solution once every couple of weeks in the growing seasons, which will be much appreciated.
Average temperatures found in the home are ideal. Grow in a range between 15°C (60°F) - 21°C (70 °F) all year round.
A slightly pot bound plant is supposed to be helpful for encouraging flowering, but when you decide to repot, try to do it during Spring if possible. Nothing special needed here, just a slightly bigger pot and a standard potting mix for houseplants.
Once repotted you don't need to worry about feeding your plant for at least 6 months.
When you repot your plant you can choose to divide it to create more. The problem with dividing circular types of plants is you end up with a lopsided result and can ruin the original "bulk". If you do go ahead and divide, face the sparse side towards the light source, it will sprout new growth from that side first, which in time will help balance the plant shape.
Moderately in good light conditions. Significantly slower (if at all) if light levels are low.
This depends on the variety you buy. Although even then, in an indoor home situation, they will only expect to reach about 45cm / 18in in height and about that in width.
Being one of the main reasons people will buy this plant, of course it has flowers! There is loads of information on the web about how to get a Peace Lily to rebloom, the problem is that the tips and suggestions don't seem to work for everyone in the same way which is obviously not helpful!
If you have a "secret to success" and you want to share, tell us in the comments section below, or read the hundred or so comments left already for other ideas you can try.
The flowers are pure white when they first open - photo by JJ Harrison
Meanwhile here are our best ideas for encouraging reblooms:
Remember don't expect very numerous blooms like you had when you first brought the plant, and the reasons why this is so are discussed in the introduction above.
The Peace Lily is mildly toxic to cats, dogs and people. Whilst consuming this plant is rarely fatal, if ingested it can result in significant irritation of the mouth, tongue and lips.
Your Peace Lily will need dusting or washing from time to time to keep the leaves glossy and looking their best.
Average Light Levels An adaptable houseplant that will do well in both light shade or brightly lit spaces. If you want growth then avoid deep shade and you must keep your plant out of direct sunlight to prevent it from burning.
High Watering If you grow your plant in a bright and warm place then these plants will be heavy drinkers (dark locations will mean low watering needs). Keep the soil moist, or wait until the plant starts to wilt a little.
Average Temperature Provide temperatures between 15°C (60°F) - 21°C (70 °F).
Feeding Provide feed once or twice a month during Spring and Summer.
A Peace Lily houseplant with crispy brown leaf edges is a very common problem
Peace Lily has crispy brown edges
If the crispy parts are on the tips rather than on the edge as shown in the photo above, scroll further down. Unfortunately crispy brown bits on the sides of the leaves are a fairly common issue that could have several different causes.
Peace Lily is drooping
In the majority of cases this is the "I need water NOW!" SOS signal from your plant. Try not to let this go on for a long period otherwise leaf damage will result as outlined in some of the problems below.
Did you know?
This isn't the only houseplant to do the "flop dance". The Fittonia (Nerve Plant) does it too.
Annoyingly if you over water the plant, it will also show a droopy effect, albeit on a much less obvious level. It's really easy to see this droop and think it's starting to ask for more water, so thinking the droop will get more severe you reach for the watering can. You're clearly acting with good intentions here, although unfortunately you're making things worse.
It's best to be safe than sorry when it comes to the Peace Lily and watering, get used to checking if you aren't 100% sure what it needs. Feel the soil or lift the pot. Light pots will indicate the need for water, heavy pots tell you the soil is already saturated and no more water is wanted.
Further reading -
How often should I water my plants?
Tips of Peace Lily leaves are black, almost soggy
Generally caused by over watering over a prolonged period. If at the moment you are screaming at the screen that you don't over water (and you're certain of this) try repotting the plant. If many years have passed since the last time you did it, then the soil may have broken down and need replacing.
Dark Green almost black spots on the leaves
If the blackness is on the tips, look at the previous problem. If the spots are somewhere different it's likely being caused by too much fertilizer. Flush the soil with fresh water and don't feed again for 6 months.
Totally yellow Peace Lily leaves or yellow and brown tips
The odd Peace Lily leaf going completely yellow quickly is normal, especially if it's a very old one. If many leaves are going yellow at once it's in too bright a spot or the plant has been sitting in a lot of water. Move to a darker location and cut back on the watering.
This Peace Lily has the yellow and brown leaf tips problem
You'll also start getting yellow leaf tips with brown crispy edges or tips if you constantly don't water within a few days of your Peace Lily flopping over (see watering care above), i.e. under watering.
Something else to consider; you can get this yellow / brown leaf tip problem if the plant has been watered far to much over a steady and prolonged period. Although if this is the cause it's much more normal for the tips to be dark green, brown or black instead.
No Flowers on my Peace Lily Plant
See the flower section above.
Peace Lily flowers are going green
Very common on this plant. As the flowers age (several weeks after blooming) they naturally start to turn green. If they're never white, i.e. as soon as they open they're green immediately, it's likely caused by too much fertilizer in the months prior to the blooms forming.
Earlier in this article, I told you that as a team, we owned over 20 of these plants and that's no exaggeration. Their versatility is incredible and without a doubt they're the most tolerant houseplant (from all the ones I've owned) that will put up with low light. Well... to be honest sometimes almost no light!
Have you got Low Light spots to fill?
We wrote a 12 perfect houseplants for low light article if you need some tips or ideas about this topic.
Yeah, the drawback is limited to no growth and any I have in places like this have produced absolutely no flowers. Not even one. But the advantage is the bit of permanent greenery in spaces that could not normally support life.
They're really easy plants and even though the crispy brown edges and yellow tips will appear on mine occasionally, they just go on and on.
As for maintenance, all I'll do is prune off a load of brown dead leaves once or twice a year from the bigger and older specimens. Flowers will emerge several times a year, usually, two or three per plant. When they go green and the white pollen starts to fall onto the leaves and furnishings below I'll cut them off.
A less bright location is no problem for this Peace Lily by Gaurav Sharma.
They never really seem to just "die" either. I sometimes find the ones in small pots sort of climb out of the container and go very leggy and "sparse" looking. When this happens I'll roughly combine several plants like this into one new container. It never seems to happen with my bigger plants though.
Either way I'll 100% recommend these if you have a tricky low light spot to fill, or just very new to houseplants.
Over the last 20 years, Tom has successfully owned hundreds of houseplants and is always happy to share knowledge and lend his horticulture skills to those in need. He is the leading content writer for the Ourhouseplants Team.
(Gallery / Picture in article) Credit Peace Lily in window to Gaurav Sharma
(Gallery / Picture in article) Credit Peace Lily Flower close up to JJ Harrison
(Gallery / Article) Peace Lily Plant in house corner Judy A
(Gallery) Credit Peace Lily Flower and leaves with dark background UshaJ
