Peace Lily Cultivars and Pollination Secrets

Last November, LariAnn Garner introduced the popular peace lily. Now we revisit this beloved houseplant to explore the many cultivars on the market and uncover the fascinating biology behind its flowers.

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are often cited as North America's most popular houseplant, even earning "Desk Plant of the Year" in 2007. With about 40 species native to tropical Central and South America, most cultivated varieties are hybrids of S. wallisii (Panama, Costa Rica) and S. cochlearispathum (Colombia, Venezuela). The oldest cultivar, 'Clevelandii', may be a selection of S. wallisii, while 'Mauna Loa' remains the most famous. Recent years have brought a wave of new cultivars differing in leaf finish (glossy or matte), leaf color, flower size, and plant height. Unfortunately, plants are often sold without cultivar names, making it hard to predict mature size.

Cultivars fall into three size classes:

• Small (12–18 inches): Ideal for tablets and dish gardens. Examples: 'Annette', 'Allison', 'Chopin', 'Patrice', 'Power Petite', 'Wallisii' (not the species).
• Medium (24–36 inches): Suited for larger tables, stands, or floor pots. Includes 'Clevelandii', 'Mojo', 'Prima', 'Sonya', 'Sweet Pablo' (touted as fastest-growing).
• Large (over 3 feet, up to 6): Need 10–14 inch pots, best as floor specimens. Top picks: 'White Lightning', 'Sensation', 'Figaro' (Best Flowering Plant at Dutch Horti-fair 1999).

The three main sizes of peace lily: small, medium, and large.

Variegated cultivars add foliage interest with white, cream, or yellow streaks—not along edges like most variegated plants. 'Domino' (medium) is the classic; others include 'City of Angels', 'Ceres', 'Hi Ho Silver' (all medium), 'Cali Columbia' (dwarf), and 'Sunny Sails' (large). Chartreuse-leaved 'Golden Delicious' and 'Golden Glow' are small.

Variegated 'Domino' (left) and S. cannifolium showing chartreuse foliage like 'Golden Glow' and 'Golden Delicious'.

The Intricate Pollination Dance

Peace lilies belong to the Araceae family, characterized by a spadix (rod-like spike of tiny florets) enclosed by a showy spathe (modified leaf). Spathiphyllum flowers are hermaphroditic—functionally male and female. Blooming lasts 9–12 days (though the white spathe persists for weeks). The female phase (receptive to pollen) lasts 4–5 days, immediately followed by the male phase (pollen release) for 4–6 days. This temporal separation prevents self-pollination.

Female phase (left) and male phase (right) showing pollen at base of styles.

In the morning, flowers emit a spicy, soap-like fragrance that attracts stingless bees (Trigona and Euglossine). During the female phase, bees collect wax from conical styles on the spadix. In the male phase, they gather pollen. Remarkably, each bloom is "owned" by only 1–3 bees that visit it exclusively throughout its flowering period. When they move to a new flower, they inadvertently transfer pollen, achieving cross-pollination. By afternoon, fragrance ceases and bees visit other nearby blooms.

Nature's precision is astounding—next time you see a peace lily flower, you'll witness a sophisticated pollination syndrome in action.

Photo credits: Equilibrium ('Domino'), giancarlo (large), grampapa (small), Monocromatico (S. cannifolium), Xenomorf (medium and male close-up).