Plant
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisiiAlso known as White Sails, Spathe Flower
Native to the humid understories of Central and South American rainforests, peace lilies thrive in warm, shaded environments beneath dense forest canopies. Their distinctive white blooms are actually specialized leaves called spathes that wrap around a central spike of true flowers. In cultivation, these hardy evergreens are celebrated for their air-purifying qualities and clear visual cues, visibly drooping when thirsty and rebounding rapidly after watering.
Indoor PlantTropicalEvergreen
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Mealybugs
- Spider Mites
- Fungus Gnats
ThreatsRoot rot from overwatering, prolonged cold exposure
HabitatsTropical rainforest understories, humid indoor spaces
Life span5–20 years
Classification
- OrderAlismatales
- FamilyAraceae
- GenusSpathiphyllum
- SpeciesSpathiphyllum wallisii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains calcium oxalate crystals; toxic to dogs and cats if chewed or ingested.
- Why it is dangerous
- Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals irritate mouth tissues, causing intense burning, swelling, drooling, and vomiting when chewed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by dark green lance-shaped leaves and tall erect white spade-like spathes.
- What to do
- Keep out of reach of pets and children, and wash hands after pruning foliage or repotting.
Responsible observation
- Watering Protocol: Allow the top inch of soil to dry out, then water thoroughly when leaves begin to flag.
- Light Placement: Position in indirect, filtered sunlight to encourage blooms without leaf scorch.
- Pet Safety: Elevate containers on stands or place in pet-free rooms to protect curious animals.
Frequent Companion (c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Understory Neighbor (c) Kevin Faccenda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Jotbepe / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Arum Relative (c) agujaceratops, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Windowsill Flora
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