Peace Lily

Peace Lily 'Stephanie' (Spathiphyllum 'Stephanie') is the indoor plant that tells you when it needs water and forgives you for waiting. It forms a glossy dark green clump about 70cm tall and 60cm across, sending up white flowers on slim stems above the foliage several times a year. It is a mid sized selection, so it fills a floor pot properly without taking over a small room.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers indoors, reliably. White blooms appear in flushes through the warmer months, which very few foliage plants manage in a living room.
• A useful size. At roughly 70cm by 60cm it suits a floor pot beside a lounge or a desk in an office, without needing a corner to itself.
• It shows you when it is thirsty. The leaves droop visibly and lift again within hours of a water, which makes it a forgiving plant for beginners.
• Genuinely low maintenance. Shade, warmth and steady moisture are the whole requirement. No pruning, no staking, no seasonal work.

Where it works best

Indoors, in every climate. It is frost tender, so inside is the reliable answer nationally. A shaded room or a spot a few metres back from a bright window suits it well.

Pots and containers. A 300mm pot with a drainage hole holds a mature clump. It likes being slightly snug, so there is no need to move up a size every year.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it can stay outside year round in full shade under cover, where the humidity suits it.

Growing Peace Lily in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to full shade indoors. Direct sun burns the leaves within days, while very deep shade produces good foliage but few flowers. Outdoors it is limited to shaded, sheltered positions in tropical and subtropical gardens and will not take frost.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix with a little extra perlite. It wants consistent moisture with drainage, and the saucer should be tipped out after every water.

Water and feed. Water when the top 2cm of mix feels dry, usually weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter. Brown leaf tips often point to tap water salts, so flush the pot thoroughly every few months. A half strength liquid feed monthly in spring and summer supports flowering.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems right back at the base once they turn green then brown, and remove old outer leaves the same way. Divide a congested clump in spring if it stops flowering.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is sold as tube stock: young plants with a small crown and several leaves, grown on to fill a 200mm pot within a season or two in warm conditions. Tube size is the economical route if you are planting up several pots, though it means waiting for the first flowers.

Soft foliage travels reasonably well, and a droop on arrival is usually thirst rather than damage. Water it, keep it out of direct light for a fortnight and it settles. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Best low light plants for the home, for rooms with very little natural light.
• How to keep your indoor plants alive.
• Browse indoor flowering plants.
• Compare other low light indoor plants.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Peace lilies contain calcium oxalate and are toxic to cats and dogs, causing drooling, mouth irritation and vomiting if chewed. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew foliage.

Why is mine not flowering?

Usually too little light. Peace lilies survive in deep shade but flower in bright indirect light, so move it closer to a window without putting it in direct sun. A monthly half strength feed in spring and summer also helps.

What causes brown leaf tips?

Most often salts from tap water building up in the mix, sometimes dry air or uneven watering. Flush the pot thoroughly every few months and water more consistently.