Spathiphyllum wallisii (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Indirect bright light
Flowering period: Spring to early summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 60cm
Eventual Spread: 60cm
Hardiness: 10b, 11
Family: Araceae
Spathiphyllum wallisii is a tropical evergreen herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its dark green glossy leaves are ovate with entire margins, up to 30cm long and 15cm across. Its flowers are composed of a white spathe (bract) and a yellow spadix, are up to 7cm long and appear on a flowering stalk. Its roots have rhizomes from which its leaves and flowers emerge.
Spathiphyllum wallisii Leaf (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Spathiphyllum wallisii, commonly known as Peace Lily, White Sails or Spathe Flower, is native to south Central America. In its native habitat it grows as an understory plant in tropical forests.
The etymological root of the binomial name Spathiphyllum is from the Greek spaqh meaning ‘broad blade’ and phylum meaning ‘leaf’. Wallisii is named after Gustav Wallis (1830 – 1878), a German plant collector.
The landscape architect may find Spathiphyllum wallisii useful as a foliage houseplant with attractive spring flowers suitable for shady locations. It should be noted that this plant will produce fewer flowers in lower light levels.
Spathiphyllum wallisii Flower (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Spathiphyllum wallisii are of little benefit to UK wildlife.
Spathiphyllum wallisii prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
When maintaining Spathiphyllum wallisii as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly (not wet). Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 32ºc, although it will tolerate a low temperature of 10ºc. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out every two weeks during the growing season. To keep a tidy appearance old flowered and flower stalks can be removed. It likes to be misted regularly and its leave being wiped clean. Red Spider Mite, Scale insects and mealy bugs may attack this plant.
Landscape Architecture
