# Peace Lily (*spathiphyllum wallisii*)

The Peace Lily is a beautiful plant with large green leaves and white flowers that look like sails. It loves to grow indoors and can help clean the air in your home!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Indoor spaces, particularly in warm and humid environments.
- **Also known as:** Closet Plant, Spathiphyllum, White Flag Plant

![Peace Lily](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/SpathiphyllumWallisii.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Peter Fiskerstrand, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SpathiphyllumWallisii.jpg)

## Appearance

The Peace Lily has glossy, dark green oval leaves with prominent veins. Its striking 'flower' is actually a pure white, spoon-shaped leaf (spathe) that wraps around a cream-colored stalk of tiny true flowers (spadix). This creates a unique flag-like appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Alismatales
- **Family:** Araceae
- **Genus:** Spathiphyllum

## Interesting facts

- If it gets too much water, it can 'cry' water droplets from its leaves!
- It can bloom beautiful white 'flowers' all year long indoors!
- The white 'petal' is actually a special leaf called a spathe!
- Your Peace Lily isn't a true lily; it's related to calla lilies!

## Special abilities

- **Air Purifier:** Peace Lily can filter common indoor air toxins like formaldehyde and benzene, helping it survive in varied environments.
- **Light Adapters:** Peace Lily has strong low-light tolerance, allowing it to thrive in the dim understories of tropical forests.
- **Water Whisperer:** Peace Lily can visibly droop when thirsty, a clever signal helping it communicate its water needs to caregivers.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-30 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round (indoors)
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects pollen from the tiny spadix flowers.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Young leaves are sometimes nibbled by garden snails.
- **Eaten by:** Cotton aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Aphids suck sap from the plant, weakening it.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Keep out of reach of pets and small children as they can cause mild irritation if ingested.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Peace Lily?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Peace Lily?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Peace Lily spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Peace Lily?

10-30 cm

### When does Peace Lily bloom?

Year-round (indoors)

### Is Peace Lily edible?

No

### Is Peace Lily toxic?

Mild

### What is Peace Lily's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Huddy Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huddy-park) — New Jersey, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Peace Lily: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peace-lily)