At a glance calla lilies and peace lilies appear quite similar. Both produce beautiful white flowers that lend an exotic flair to any space. But despite their visual similarities, calla lilies and peace lilies are very different plants with distinct care needs.
Read on to learn how to tell calla lilies and peace lilies apart, along with tips for growing each flower successfully.
Calla Lily Overview
Calla lilies belong to the Zantedeschia genus in the Araceae family. There are several species, with Zantedeschia aethiopica being the most popular. Calla lilies are not true lilies, which belong to the Lilium genus.
Native to southern Africa, calla lilies grow from rhizomes or bulbs. Mature plants reach about 2-3 feet tall and wide. The flowers consist of a thick spadix (spike) surrounded by a showy white spathe. Flower colors include white, pink, purple, yellow, and bicolors.
Callas flourish in USDA Zones 8-11. They prefer full sun to partial shade and moist rich soil. Excellent for cut flowers, calla lilies also work well in perennial gardens and container plantings.
Peace Lily Overview
Peace lilies belong to the Spathiphyllum genus. The most popular species is Spathiphyllum wallisii. Native to tropical rainforests, peace lilies can grow up to 6 feet tall.
Peace lilies are herbaceous perennials with large, glossy leaves that emerge from a central stalk. The flowers feature a spadix surrounded by a prominent white spathe, just like calla lilies. But peace lily spathes tend to be larger.
In the home, peace lilies thrive in bright, indirect light. They flourish as houseplants in most indoor conditions. Outdoors, they prefer warm climates, growing best in USDA Zones 10-12.
Key Differences Between Calla Lilies and Peace Lilies
Now let’s explore the major differences between calla lilies and peace lilies:
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Size: Calla lilies grow 2-3 feet tall, while peace lilies can reach 6 feet.
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Leaves: Callas have small, arrowhead-shaped leaves. Peace lilies have very large, oval-shaped leaves.
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Flowers: Calla flowers sit at soil level. Peace lily blooms are held above the foliage.
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Ideal Light: Callas need full sun to partial shade. Peace lilies tolerate more shade.
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Soil Moisture: Callas prefer consistently moist soil. Peace lilies tolerate drying out between waterings.
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Hardiness: Calla lilies are hardy to zone 8. Peace lilies are only hardy in zones 10-12.
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Uses: Callas work well in ponds/water features. Peace lilies excel as houseplants.
Growing Calla Lilies
Here are some tips for successfully growing calla lilies:
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Plant rhizomes or bulbs in spring after the last frost. Place 4-6 inches deep and 12-24 inches apart.
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Grow in full sun to partial shade. Provide at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
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Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not saturated.
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Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growing season.
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Mulch heavily to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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Dig up rhizomes in fall after first frost and store indoors until spring.
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Grow calla lilies in containers or outdoors in zones 8-11. Provide winter protection in colder climates.
Growing Peace Lilies
Follow these tips for growing vibrant peace lilies:
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Place in bright, indirect light or filtered sunlight. Avoid direct sun which can scorch leaves.
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Water when the top inch of soil dries out. Take care not to overwater.
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Mist leaves often to increase humidity. Peace lilies thrive in humid conditions.
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Use room temperature water to avoid shocking plant. Chlorine-free water is best.
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Repot annually in spring, using a general houseplant soil. Add compost for nutrition.
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Prune off spent flowers and yellowing leaves to encourage new growth.
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Grow peace lilies year-round as houseplants. Move them outdoors only in zones 10-12.
Common Problems
Calla lilies and peace lilies share some common problems:
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Wilting or browning leaves indicate too much sun or inconsistent watering.
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Failure to bloom means insufficient sunlight.
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Root rot is caused by overly wet soil. Improve drainage.
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Pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids can attack both plants.
Adjust care to resolve issues and keep your plants looking their best. Discard diseased plants to prevent spreading problems.
Perfect for Beginners
If you’re new to gardening, calla lilies and peace lilies are ideal choices. Both offer lush, tropical appeal with minimal upkeep. Just be sure to provide the proper care for each plant’spreferences.
In the right conditions, your callas and peace lilies will thrive, rewarding you with their stunning blooms year after year. No green thumb required!
Food Guide
Peace Lilies don’t need a lot of food, so giving it a balanced home fertilizer every six weeks or so is fine. In order to see growth in the spring and summer, you should start this fertilization process late in the winter.
What is the Peace Lily plant ?
It’s also called the Calla Lily or the Peace Lily. The Spathiphyllum Wallisii is one of the most popular houseplants in the world. Its luscious green leaves bring life to any room, and caring for the Peace Lily is very straightforward.
The Peace Lily is great because it can bloom all year long, giving you the chance to see its beautiful white spathe flower. It is the perfect item for plant-lovers around the world, and can be appreciated all year long!.
Calla Lily Care Guide – Picking, Placing, and Parenting Your Plant
FAQ
Is a peace lily the same as calla lily?
What is the difference between lily and calla lily?
Can you keep calla lilies as a houseplant?
Is a calla lily an indoor or outdoor plant?
What is the difference between calla lilies and peace lily?
The biggest difference between calla lilies and peace lilies is their size, color, foliage, and overall temperature requirements. Calla lilies are much smaller than peace lilies. They also come in multiple colors instead of just white.
Is a calla lilies a true lily?
Calla lilies are not true lilies. They look much like lilies, growing in a bulbous trumpet shape. However, callas belong to the Zantedeschia genus. Peace lilies are also not true lilies – instead, they are members of the Spathiphyllum genus.
What do calla lilies look like?
Calla Lilies have arrowhead-shaped leaves that often feature sprays of white dots. Mature Peace Lilies can get up to 6 feet tall, and can spread almost as wide. Calla Lilies are a little more compact. They usually don’t grow higher than 3 feet. The spathe of a Peace Lily is always white, though it may take on a greenish tint as it gets older.
How do you tell a calla lily from a peace lily?
Some Calla Lilies even bloom in the same bright white color as a Peace Lily. And both varieties push leaves and blossoms up as individual stalks from underground stems called rhizomes. But there are a few easy ways to tell them apart: The spathe of a Calla Lily wraps much more tightly around the flower-bearing spadix.
Are peace lilies the same as Easter Lily?
No. Although they all feature beautiful white flowers, these plants belong to separate species. The Easter Lily is the only one that’s a “true lily”, a member of the Lilium genus. Peace Lilies and Calla Lilies are more closely related and have many anatomical similarities, but they’re still different.
Are calla lilies toxic?
Calla lilies and peace lilies belong to the same family, so they share a lot of similarities. For one, they’re both water-loving plants that thrive in warm temperatures. They’re also both toxic, with calla lilies being the more toxic of the two, and share the same “lily” misnomer.