Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum
Peace Lily is a classic houseplant with lance-shaped dark green leaves and white spathes that look like flowers. It often droops when thirsty, then recovers after a thorough watering, which makes its needs easy to read.
Light
Bright Indirect
Water
Moderate
Difficulty
Easy
Humidity
High
Pet Warning
Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. If ingested, it can cause significant oral irritation, swelling of the lips and tongue, drooling, and difficulty swallowing in cats, dogs, and humans.
Full care guide
Peace Lily Care
Keep a Peace Lily thriving with medium to low light, lightly moist soil, drainage holes, and simple fixes for wilt, brown tips, and scorched leaves.
Read the guideCare Notes
Full guide →Light
Bright, indirect light encourages blooms. Lower light is tolerated, but flowering slows. Direct sun can scorch leaves and leave brown patches.
Water
Keep soil evenly moist but never soggy. When the plant droops, water thoroughly and it usually perks up within a few hours. Filtered or distilled water can reduce brown tips from fluoride and chlorine. Use a pot with drainage holes.
Soil
Choose a peat-based mix rich in organic matter that still drains well. Repot into a container one size larger when roots crowd the pot, often every 1 to 2 years.
Humidity and Temperature
High humidity helps. Mist, use a pebble tray, or run a humidifier. Keep temperatures between 65°F and 85°F (18°C to 29°C), away from cold drafts and air conditioning vents. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth, and cut spent flower stalks at the base.
Common Issues
Brown tips often mean dry air or tap water minerals. Yellow leaves usually point to overwatering. Few blooms usually mean more bright, indirect light is needed.
In-Depth Care & Growth
Feeding & Soil
Fertilizer
Balanced, water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer
Soil
Well-draining, peat-based potting mix with a high organic matter content
Physical Attributes
Mature Size
1 to 4 feet tall depending on the variety
Growth Rate
Moderate
Propagation
Division of the root clump during the repotting process
Common Varieties
Sensation (Giant)
Massive deep-green lance-shaped leaves with a thick, deeply ribbed texture.
Domino (Variegated)
Glossy, lightly crinkled leaves marbled with creamy white splashes and streaks on a deep green background.
Mauna Loa
Extra-large glossy deep-green lance-shaped leaves with a smooth reflective surface.
Wallisii (Dwarf)
A compact dwarf form with dense glossy deep-green foliage and slender rippled, deeply veined leaves.
Peace Lily 'Sensation'
The largest common Spathiphyllum cultivar, with massive deeply ribbed dark emerald leaves and the familiar white spathes against dense foliage.