Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum

Family: Araceae

Low Light Tolerant
Indoor Bloomer

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Toxic to pets

People: not researched yet.

Toxic to pets

ASPCA lists Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) as Toxic to Dogs and Toxic to Cats: direct match under 'Peace Lily' / 'Mauna Loa Peace Lily'. Toxic principle: insoluble calcium oxalates, the same oral/contact irritant mechanism as pothos (oral irritation, intense burning of mouth/tongue/lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing): not the same as true-lily (Lilium/Hemerocallis) toxicity, which causes acute kidney failure in cats from even small exposure. This distinction matters enough to flag prominently: despite the common name, Peace Lily's risk profile is much closer to pothos/dieffenbachia than to Easter lilies, daylilies, or other true lilies, and conflating them could either cause needless panic or, worse, cause someone to under-react to an actual true-lily exposure elsewhere. NC State's independent listing agrees on toxicity and adds horses to the list of animals at risk beyond ASPCA's dogs/cats-only page.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 11a-12b outdoors (tropical only); grown as a houseplant everywhere else, including Central Florida (NC State Extension).
Mature size: 1-6 feet tall and 1-5 feet wide depending on cultivar; typically stays around 3 feet as a houseplant. Dwarf cultivars are available for smaller spaces (NC State Extension).
Where it comes from: Mexico, tropical America, Malesia, and western Pacific islands (NC State Extension). Approximately 60 species in the genus.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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