Spathiphyllum
Evergreen houseplant with white hooded flowers, known as the peace lily
Spathiphyllum is a group of evergreen plants from tropical America and Southeast Asia, often called peace lilies. Their glossy green leaves and white or greenish spathes make them popular as houseplants, thriving in low light and moist soil. Some species are also grown outdoors in hot, humid climates.
- Grown mainly as a houseplant for its white spathe and dark green leaves
- Native to tropical America and Southeast Asia
- Flowers are surrounded by a white or greenish spathe
- Mildly toxic if eaten, but less so than true lilies
- The 'Mauna Loa' cultivar has won a garden merit award
What does Spathiphyllum look like?
Spathiphyllum plants are evergreen perennials with rosettes of glossy, dark green leaves that grow directly from a creeping stem. Leaves are elliptical or lance-shaped, ranging from 10 to 64 cm long. The flower consists of a white or greenish spathe, a hood-like leaf, that partially surrounds a short, fleshy spadix covered in tiny flowers. The spathe is usually 10 to 30 cm long, and the spadix is cream or greenish-white. Plants can reach from 30 cm to over 1.8 meters in height.
Where does Spathiphyllum come from?
Spathiphyllum grows wild in the humid, shady forest floors of Central and northern South America, and some species are native to Pacific islands, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They are often found along rivers and streams, sometimes in areas that are seasonally flooded. The genus was first described in 1832 by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott, and its name means 'leaf spathe'. Over time, botanists have revised the group, and today about 59 species are recognized.
When and how Spathiphyllum blooms
Spathiphyllum is usually grown as a houseplant, thriving in shade with little sunlight and regular weekly watering. It prefers moist soil and warm temperatures between 21 and 32°C. Commercially, plants are propagated by tissue culture and grown in containers with peat, bark, or coir. Flowering can be induced by spraying with gibberellic acid. Outdoors, they grow best in hot, humid climates, often in shady spots.
How Spathiphyllum is used
Most often, Spathiphyllum is kept indoors for its attractive foliage and flowers, requiring little care. Some species are grown outdoors in tropical gardens. At least one species, S. matudae, has its young spadix eaten pickled or cooked with eggs. While called a 'lily', it is only mildly toxic if eaten, causing irritation but not the severe effects of true lilies.
Kinds of Spathiphyllum
The genus includes 59 species, with notable ones like S. cannifolium from the Americas and S. commutatum from Indonesia and the Philippines. Hybrids such as Spathiphyllum × clevelandii are widely grown as houseplants. The 'Mauna Loa' cultivar has received recognition for its garden value.
What Spathiphyllum means
Spathiphyllum is valued for its easy care and ornamental appeal, especially as a houseplant. It is not a true lily, despite the common name 'peace lily'. The plant is mildly toxic due to calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation if ingested. It is not known to be a symbol or emblem in any country, but is widely grown around the world.
Questions people ask about Spathiphyllum
Where does Spathiphyllum come from?
Spathiphyllum is native to the tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia, growing wild on humid forest floors and along rivers and streams.
What does a Spathiphyllum look like?
It has glossy, dark green leaves and a white or greenish spathe that surrounds a short, cream or greenish spadix. The plant can range from 30 cm to over 1.8 meters tall.
Is Spathiphyllum poisonous?
Spathiphyllum is only mildly toxic if eaten, causing irritation or discomfort, but it does not have the severe toxins found in true lilies.
How is Spathiphyllum used?
It is mainly grown as a houseplant for decoration. In at least one species, the young spadix is eaten pickled or cooked with eggs.
What is Spathiphyllum known for?
It is known for being an easy-care houseplant with attractive white spathes and dark green leaves, and is sometimes called the peace lily.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa'Royal Horticultural Society, Article
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Spathiphyllum on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Spathiphyllum", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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