A peace lily, the flowering houseplant that will grow and flower in a room where most others would only sulk.
Spathiphyllum wallisii makes a clump of glossy, dark green, lance-shaped leaves and sends up white spathes on slender stems above them. The spathe is a coloured bract rather than a petal, which is why it lasts so long, and a plant kept warm will produce flushes through spring and summer and often on and off through the rest of the year indoors.
It will grow anywhere from bright indirect light to a genuinely shaded corner, and direct sun scorches the leaves, so keep it off a south-facing sill. Keep the compost lightly moist and never let the pot stand in water. It wilts dramatically the moment it runs dry and stands back up within hours of a drink, which alarms people but is simply how it asks. It likes a warm room, roughly 16C to 24C, and some humidity, so mist it occasionally or keep it in a bathroom. Feed every two to four weeks from spring to autumn, wipe the leaves now and then, and repot in spring once it fills its pot.
Supplied as one established plant with a 2 litre, 17cm root ball, ready to pot into a container of your own. Peace lily is harmful if eaten and irritates skin and eyes, and it is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of their reach.
Cultural Information
Common Name: Peace lily, white sails
Fully Grown Height and Spread: 30 to 100cm x 30 to 60cm indoors, depending on the variety
Growth Habit: Clump forming and upright with arching foliage
Perfect For: Living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices and shaded corners
Foliage: Glossy, dark green, lance-shaped evergreen leaves
Flowering Time: Spring to summer, and often intermittently through the year indoors
Planting Position: Bright to low indirect light indoors
Soil Type: Free-draining, peat-free houseplant compost
Hardiness: Tender, indoor only; keep above 12C
Maintenance: Easy; keep lightly moist and feed in the growing season
Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage all year with white flowers in spring and summer
Type: Evergreen flowering houseplant
