This week's plant spotlight features one of the most beautiful plants around, the Peace Lily. Also known as the Spathiphyllum or simply Spath, the Peace Lily is one of the most popular houseplants. And a favourite of new and experienced plant-parents alike. But their gorgeous white flowers aren't the only thing that makes them special. So without further ado, let's delve into the world of the beautiful Peace Lily!
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Our friend Lily
The Peace Lily, known as Lilly here at Plantsome, originates from the tropical rainforest floors of Venezuela and Colombia. They were brought to Europe in 1870 where they became a popular houseplant and a common decoration in many homes. Because of their tropical origins, Peace Lillies love humidity and can survive in low light, making them one of the few plants that can thrive in a bathroom!
The "fake lily"
Despite its name, the Peace Lily is not actually a true Lily. It is part of the Araceae family along with other lily-looking plants like the Flamingo Flower. Sure, being called a "fake Lily" can be hard sometimes. But because the Peace Lily is not a true Lily, it's only mildly toxic. Real lilies are entirely toxic and some like the Star Lily can lead to death if ingested. Thankfully, the only part of the Spath that could cause some minor irritation is its flower stem. Keep in mind though that we still do not recommend gifting Lilly to your furry friends. But having a Peace Lily in your home is safe if placed in a spot away from pets (and the same thing cannot be said for true lilies!).
Peace and Love
Peace Lilies gets their name from their white flowers that look similar to a white flag of surrender or peace. Because of this, the Lily itself is commonly used as a symbol of peace and tranquillity. And it is often associated with funerals in many cultures, also as a symbol of sympathy and rebirth.
Breathe Easy
Touted as the number one most air-purifying plant in a NASA study, the Peace Lily is truly the air-purifying master. While most air-purifiers like snake and zz plants remove one or two toxins from the air, the Peace Lily removes five: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, ammonia and xylene. Now, that's impressive!
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