The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), also known as White Sails, is one of the most popular and beloved indoor houseplants, admired for its deep green, glossy foliage and elegant white spathe flowers. A versatile, shade-tolerant plant, it thrives in low to bright indirect light, making it an excellent choice for bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, home offices, hallways, desks and other spaces where natural light may be limited. Its graceful appearance, straightforward care requirements and reputation for helping to improve indoor air quality make it a rewarding choice for both beginners and experienced plant lovers.
Key Features:
- Deep green, glossy, lance-shaped foliage with elegant white spathe flowers
- Thrives in low light and shade-tolerant indoor conditions
- Brighter indirect light can encourage more frequent flowering
- Widely recognised as an air-purifying houseplant
- Low maintenance and well suited to beginner plant owners
- Ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, offices, hallways, desks and smaller spaces
- A thoughtful indoor plant gift for birthdays, housewarmings, sympathy occasions and other special occasions
- Associated with calm, renewal, peace, hope and positive energy
Plant Growing Conditions:
- Light: Prefers indirect to low light and can tolerate quite dim positions. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, as this can scorch the leaves.
- Watering: Water when the top layer or approximately the top inch of compost feels dry, allowing it to dry slightly between waterings. Peace Lilies prefer consistently moist but not waterlogged conditions. Reduce watering when growth slows during winter.
- Best Position: Place in a warm indoor position away from cold draughts, frost and direct heat sources such as radiators.
- Humidity: Moderate humidity is preferred. Occasional misting or placing the plant on a tray of damp pebbles can help maintain humidity and reduce brown leaf tips.
- Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser approximately once a month during the growing season from spring to summer.
- Repotting: Repot every 1–2 years, or when the plant has outgrown its container, using fresh suitable houseplant compost. Propagation by division can be carried out when repotting.
Cultural Information:
- Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum wallisii
- Common Names: Peace Lily, White Sails
- Classification: Tender Evergreen Tropical Perennial
- Fully Grown Height & Spread: Approximately 30–65 cm × 30–45 cm indoors, depending on variety and growing conditions
- Growth Habit: Clump-forming, upright evergreen perennial
- Perfect for: Bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, home offices, hallways, desks, apartments and low light spaces
- Flowering Time: Spring to summer, with possible repeat or occasional autumn blooms depending on conditions
- Planting Position: Low to bright indirect light; avoid direct sunlight
- Type: Tender Tropical Evergreen Houseplant, suitable for indoor growing year-round in the UK
- Foliage: Deep green, glossy, lance-shaped leaves
- Flowers: Elegant white spathes surrounding a creamy spadix
- Air Purifying: Widely recognised for helping to filter indoor air toxins and improve the indoor atmosphere
- Pet Safety: Toxic if ingested and may cause irritation; keep safely out of reach of cats, dogs and young children
- Symbolic Meaning: Commonly associated with calm, renewal, peace and hope
Care Tips:
- Water when the top layer of compost feels dry, but never allow the plant to sit in standing water.
- Keep the compost slightly moist while avoiding waterlogging.
- Mist the leaves occasionally or use a humidity tray to maintain suitable humidity.
- Move to a slightly brighter indirect position if you wish to encourage flowering.
- Wipe the leaves gently with a damp cloth to remove dust and maintain their glossy appearance.
- Feed during spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser.
- Repot when necessary, generally every one to two years.
- Keep away from cold draughts, frost, direct sunlight and direct radiator heat.
Notes: Peace Lilies are living plants, so individual plants may vary slightly in size, foliage and stage of growth when supplied. White flowers may be present depending on the season and growing conditions at the time of dispatch. Pot size and quantity supplied will depend on the individual listing.