7 Surprising Secrets of the Peace Lily: Your Ultimate Guide to Serenity and Clean Air
Quick answer: A peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is good for bringing easy, low light greenery and white flowers indoors. It tolerates shade and tells you when it needs water by drooping, which makes it one of the hardest houseplants to kill. It absorbed common indoor chemicals in NASA's 1989 Clean Air Study, but in a normal home it will not replace fresh air and ventilation.
Peace lilies make a lovely, long lasting plant gift. Here is what they are genuinely good for, how to keep one flowering, and answers to the most common questions.
What is a peace lily good for?
- Low light rooms. It grows happily in bright, indirect light and copes with shadier spots where most flowering plants will not bloom.
- Beginners and busy people. It droops when thirsty and perks up within hours of a drink, so it is easy to read.
- Year round greenery with flowers. Glossy dark leaves all year and white flowers several times a year with good light.
- Adding humidity. Like most leafy plants it releases moisture into the air, which suits air conditioned rooms.
- A meaningful gift. Its white flowers make it a popular sympathy, housewarming and get well gift that lasts far longer than a bouquet.
Do peace lilies really clean the air?
Partly. In NASA's 1989 Clean Air Study, peace lilies removed benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from small sealed test chambers, which is where their air purifying reputation comes from. Later research, including a 2019 review of three decades of studies, found that in a real home you would need a very large number of plants to match the effect of normal ventilation. So enjoy a peace lily for its looks and easy care, and open the windows for clean air.
Is a peace lily good on a dining table?
Yes. A peace lily makes a long lasting dining table centrepiece because it is compact, has no strong scent and its flowers sit above the leaves. Keep it within a few metres of a window with bright, indirect light, and move it back to a brighter spot for a few days a week if it stops flowering.
How do you care for a peace lily?
| Need | What it likes |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light. Direct sun scorches the leaves; too little light means no flowers. |
| Water | When the top 2 to 3 cm of soil is dry, usually about once a week. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. |
| Temperature | 18 to 27°C. Keep away from cold draughts and air conditioner vents. |
| Humidity | Loves humidity. Wipe or mist the leaves occasionally in dry, air conditioned rooms. |
| Feeding | A diluted liquid indoor plant food once a month in spring and summer. |
| Repotting | Every 1 to 2 years in spring, one pot size up, when roots fill the pot. |
Are peace lilies safe for cats and dogs?
No, they are mildly toxic. Peace lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and throat if chewed, causing drooling, pawing at the mouth and sometimes vomiting. Unlike true lilies (Lilium), they do not cause kidney failure in cats, but keep them out of reach of pets and call your vet if your pet eats any.
Peace lily FAQs
Why is my peace lily drooping?
Almost always because it is thirsty. Water it thoroughly and it should stand back up within a few hours. If the soil is already wet and it still droops, the roots may be waterlogged, so let it dry out and check the pot drains.
Why are my peace lily leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves usually mean overwatering or poor drainage. Older leaves also yellow naturally. Brown leaf tips point to dry air, too much fertiliser or chlorinated water.
Why is my peace lily not flowering?
Not enough light is the most common reason. Move it to a brighter spot with indirect light and feed it monthly in the warmer months. Mature plants usually flower in spring and summer.
Do peace lilies smell?
Barely. Most people notice little or no scent. Some flowers have a faint, sweet fragrance when they first open, which makes peace lilies a good choice for dining tables, bedrooms and people who are sensitive to strong floral scents.
Can you put a peace lily outside on the Sunshine Coast?
Yes, in a fully shaded, sheltered spot. Our warm, humid climate suits them, but direct sun burns the leaves. Bring potted plants inside if nights drop below about 10°C.
How long does a peace lily live?
With basic care a peace lily can live for many years indoors. Divide and repot it when it outgrows its pot to keep it healthy.
Send a peace lily on the Sunshine Coast
Our Peace Lily comes wrapped and ready to gift, and we deliver same day across the Sunshine Coast when you order before 2pm on weekdays or 10am on Saturday. See more indoor plants, or pair it with a card from our add on gifts.
Last updated 28 September 2026 by the Buderim Floral Art team.