Your Peace Lily Is Not The Flower You Think It Is

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is arguably one of the most popular plants people keep indoors. Not only is the peace lily attractive, with its big green leaves and soft white flowers, but it also has a reputation of being a calming houseplant that makes your space feel fresh. On top of this, peace lilies are relatively easy to grow and maintain if you're new to indoor plants, or if your personal lack of green thumb has led to a number of plant casualties. There's a lot to learn about this plant, including the different varieties of peace lilies that are great for growing indoors. It also turns out the peace lily is a bit of an imposter, as it's not really a true lily at all.

If peace lilies aren't really lilies, then why are they referred to as such? The answer boils down to their flowers. These are similar in shape to calla lilies (Zantedeschia), which is how the misnomer emerged. (Ironically, calla lilies are not considered true lilies either!) As for the "peace" part in their name, it's thought that the plant's calming qualities, coupled with the white flag-like flowers, all contributed. Despite its misnamed status, the peace lily can still make for a great houseplant that's even been linked to boosted productivity and a better mood.

There are at least 60 known peace lily species, which are all indigenous to various tropical regions around the globe. The differences between peace lilies and true lilies lie in their family roots. Peace lilies are technically semi-evergreens that belong to the arum (Araceae) family. There are more than 4,000 members of this plant family, and other notable examples include calla lilies, taro, and skunk cabbage. True lilies, on the other hand, belong to the Liliaceae family. There certainly are many dazzling lilies that can bring color to your garden, but peace lilies are not technically among them from a botanical standpoint.

Aside from all their differences, peace lilies and true lilies share a common trait: They both have toxic qualities. Peace lilies can be toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and horses when eaten due to the calcium oxalate crystals in their leaves. Depending on the species, true lilies can be toxic to humans as well as animals, too. It's important to take care around pets and young children before bringing any type of lily (or peace lily) into your house.