Peace lily is one of those rare houseplants that genuinely thrives in low light, making it a practical choice for interior corners, offices, and hallways where most other plants sulk and fade. Its deep-green, glossy leaves are handsome on their own, but the real event is the spathe: a single modified leaf that unfurls like a pale wing around a creamy flower spike, holding its elegance for six weeks or more before gradually fading to soft green. In the genus of roughly 60 species, all native to tropical America and the western Pacific, the name Spathiphyllum literally means spathe leaf in Greek, a modest description for something quietly beautiful.

Indoor success depends on temperature stability above all else. Peace lily resents cold drafts, windowsills that dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night, and any direct sun that bleaches or scorches its leaves. Keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged, and fertilize at quarter strength to avoid the salt buildup that shows up as brown leaf tips. Plants do best slightly pot-bound in a mix rich in organic matter, and benefit from wiping dust off the broad leaves periodically, which also helps manage any mealybugs that tend to shelter on the undersides.