The Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum, is a highly favored houseplant known for its deep green, glossy foliage and distinctive white, sail-like spathes. This tropical perennial is celebrated for its ease of care and ability to tolerate lower light conditions, making it a popular choice for indoor environments. Successfully integrating a Peace Lily into your home begins with a thoughtful purchasing process.
Retailers for Peace Lilies
Local nurseries and garden centers often provide the highest quality plants, which have typically received specialized care from knowledgeable staff. While prices tend to be higher at these locations, the investment often results in a more resilient plant and access to expert advice on care and maintenance. Nurseries may also carry more mature or less common varieties compared to larger chains.
Big box stores offer convenience and significantly lower price points for common Spathiphyllum varieties. However, the quality control can be inconsistent, as plants are often shipped in bulk and may receive minimal, standardized care that can lead to stress or watering issues. It is a common occurrence to find plants here that are suffering from neglect or have contracted pests due to the high turnover and less specialized attention.
Online plant retailers provide the widest selection, which is advantageous if you are seeking a specific or hard-to-find cultivar. Purchasing this way offers the convenience of home delivery but removes the opportunity to physically inspect the plant before committing to the sale. The plant is also susceptible to stress or physical damage during the shipping process, making it important to choose vendors with clear health guarantees.
Popular Varieties to Consider
The dwarf varieties, such as Spathiphyllum wallisii or ‘Power Petite,’ typically remain compact, reaching heights of only 10 to 15 inches. These smaller cultivars are generally more prolific bloomers and are suitable for bright kitchen counters or shelves.
For those seeking a dramatic floor plant, giant cultivars like ‘Sensation’ are an excellent choice, growing up to six feet tall and wide with impressively large, ribbed leaves. Other cultivars are prized for their unique foliage rather than size, such as ‘Domino’ or ‘Picasso,’ which feature striking white or cream variegation across the dark green leaves. Regardless of the variety, all Peace Lilies produce a white spathe, which is a modified leaf that wraps around the central spadix.
Essential Tips for Selecting a Healthy Plant
Begin by examining the foliage for a vibrant, dark green color and a natural, glossy sheen. Avoid any plants displaying significant yellowing on the lower leaves, as this often indicates chronic overwatering or root issues. Check the leaf edges and tips for any browning or blackening, which signals past watering inconsistencies, over-fertilization, or cold exposure.
Next, turn over several leaves to inspect the undersides and along the stem joints for common houseplant pests like mealybugs or spider mites. These pests appear as small cottony masses or fine webbing and indicate an immediate issue that can spread to other plants in your home. The soil should be consistently moist to the touch, but never soaking wet or soggy, which suggests poor drainage or recent overwatering.
If the plant is flowering, select one where the spathes are fresh white or just beginning to turn a pale green. Spathes that are heavily browned or fully green have already aged significantly, meaning the plant has completed that bloom cycle.