Peace Lily

Colorful Combinations

Peace lilies’ large, glossy leaves are emerald green. Tall blossoms develop throughout the year as long as the plants receive enough light. A member of the Arum genus, peace lilies have a large white spathe, or hood, which is actually a modified leaf called a bract. It protects the spadix, which is the spike of small flowers held upright in the center of the spathe. As these flowers age, the spathe fades to green. Along with the standard green leaf variety, there are a few variegated varieties with splashes of cream or stripes of cream in the center of the leaves.

Peace Lily Care Must-Knows

Peace lilies will die in soggy or wet soil, so use a well-drained soil and let the plants dry out a bit between waterings. Peace lilies do fine with the occasional dose of a slow-release fertilizer. In fact, over-fertilization makes them prone to leaf burn, which usually shows itself in yellowing and eventually browning of the leaf tips. It is the result of too much salt in the soil. Avoid it by regularly flushing the soil until the water runs clear. Also, repot your peace lily at least once a year and remove as much of the old soil as you can. When you repot, make sure to only go up one or two pot sizes.

Indoors, peace lilies perform best in bright, indirect light. However, they can grow fine in low-light conditions. Keep in mind that lower light conditions results in fewer blossoms and a slightly looser plant habit. To keep the foliage looking its best, wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth every now and then to keep dust from building up.

More Varieties of Peace Lily

‘Domino’ Peace Lily

This variety of Spathiphyllum wallisii is a form with variegated foliage. It also blooms, but its main attraction is its green foliage speckled with cream and white.

‘Jetty’ Peace Lily

‘Jetty’ is a fast-growing, lush variety of Spathiphyllum with loads of white blooms.

‘Mauna Loa’ Peace Lily

‘Mauna Loa’ is a vigorous variety of Spathiphyllum wallisii that grows to 3 feet tall with pure white blooms.

‘Sensation’ Peace Lily

This variety of Spathiphyllum wallisii is a giant among peace lilies, growing up to 6 feet tall, with proportionately large blooms.