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Anthurium and peace lily are both tropical aroids with the same spathe-and-spadix flower structure. Both are toxic to pets. In a dim corner, peace lily will hold on and ask almost nothing of you, though it needs more light to flower — anthurium in that corner will survive but won't be happy. Here's where they differ.
Why this comparison matters
These two plants get recommended interchangeably as "flowering houseplants for low light." That recommendation is only partially accurate. Peace lily genuinely tolerates deep shade — NC State lists it under "deep shade" conditions (fewer than 2 hours of direct sun) — but MU Extension says it adapts to low light conditions and needs medium light to flower. Anthurium is rated for partial shade or bright indirect light by NC State, with south or west-facing windows noted as best.
Put anthurium in a dim corner and you'll get survival, but no flowers, and eventual decline. They look similar in a store — both have glossy green leaves and distinctive spathe-and-spadix bloom structures — but the care requirements are meaningfully different.
There is also a toxicity distinction worth noting: anthurium (A. scherzerianum) is listed as toxic to horses by the ASPCA Flamingo Flower entry; peace lily is not. For indoor cat-and-dog households, both plants carry the same risk level.
What they are (botanically)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel) is in family Araceae. Per Kew POWO, it is native to Colombia to Venezuela, growing as a perennial in wet tropical biomes. The genus Spathiphyllum contains about 60 species, per NC State; S. wallisii is the most commonly sold houseplant form, though many plants sold as "peace lily" in nurseries are hybrids or other species in the genus.
Anthurium is a large genus — over 1,300 species according to NC State — native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The two most common houseplant species are Anthurium andraeanum (waxy spathe, straight spadix; the "laceleaf" or "tailflower") and Anthurium scherzerianum (curled/corkscrew spadix; the "flamingo flower"). Both are Araceae, like peace lily, but in a different genus.
Both plants belong to the same family and share the same general flower structure: a spathe (modified leaf that forms a hood or bract) surrounding a spadix (spike of tiny true flowers). The visual differences between the two spathes are described below.
Side-by-side care table
| Need | Anthurium | Peace Lily (S. wallisii) |
|---|---|---|
| Light | South or west-facing windows best; bright indirect; partial shade | Deep shade to partial shade; fewer than 2 hours direct sun; one of the most shade-tolerant houseplants |
| Water | Water when soil is dry to the touch; rainwater or purified water recommended by NC State | "Keep the soil moist, but not soggy; allow it to dry between waterings" per NC State |
| Humidity | Prefers "warm and very humid conditions"; NC State notes leaf tips brown when humidity is too low. A humidifier is the easiest way to keep humidity up indoors | Tolerates lower humidity; NC State notes brown leaf tips from low humidity but does not classify it as a high-humidity plant |
| Temperature | Warm; consistent indoor temperatures | NC State recommends 68–85°F during the day |
| Soil | Well-draining mix; tolerates epiphytic orchid-bark blends | Standard well-draining potting mix; keep moist but not waterlogged |
| Maintenance | NC State explicitly rates as "high maintenance" | NC State describes as "low-maintenance" |
| Aerial roots | NC State notes anthurium "may have aerial roots present" | Does not produce aerial roots as a houseplant feature |
Pet toxicity
Anthurium (A. scherzerianum, Flamingo Flower) is classified Toxic to Dogs and Toxic to Cats by the ASPCA Flamingo Flower entry. The toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalates. Clinical signs include oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is classified Toxic to Dogs and Toxic to Cats by the ASPCA Peace Lily entry. The same toxic principle — insoluble calcium oxalates — is responsible. Clinical signs are similar: oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. The practical summary: Keep both plants away from cats and dogs — neither is safe. Both plants carry the same level of risk for cat-and-dog households: keep them out of reach.
Peace lily is sometimes described in wellness and air-quality articles as "mildly toxic" or even non-toxic — this is incorrect. Both plants contain insoluble calcium oxalates and both are definitively listed as toxic to dogs and cats by the ASPCA.
How to tell them apart
The spathe is the fastest identification feature:
Anthurium spathe: Thick, stiff, waxy, and leathery. Each bloom lasts about six weeks on the plant, per UF/IFAS (NC State says up to 4 weeks for A. andraeanum), and NC State notes the flowers are long-lasting as cut flowers and popular with florists. Colors range from red, pink, and white to orange and purple depending on variety. NC State describes anthurium as having "glossy, waxy, heart-shaped, deep green leaves" and the spathe as similarly waxy and long-lasting.
Peace lily spathe: Soft, thin, and white to cream. Per NC State, the white blooms change to pale green after about 10 days and then stay attractive for at least another month. The shape is more boat-like or cupped rather than flat.
Spadix shape: In A. scherzerianum (flamingo flower), the spadix is spiraled or corkscrew-shaped — this is a distinctive identification feature. In A. andraeanum (laceleaf anthurium), the spadix is straight. Peace lily's spadix is straight and cylindrical, typically cream or pale yellow.
Leaf shape: Both have glossy green leaves, but peace lily leaves are longer and narrower (lanceolate to elliptic), while anthurium leaves are more broadly heart-shaped at the base. Height doesn't separate them: NC State gives 1–3.5 ft for anthurium, and says peace lilies more typically reach 3 feet high and wide indoors.
Aerial roots: Anthurium may produce visible aerial roots from the stem. Peace lily does not, as a rule.
Which one should you get?
Get a peace lily if: You have a dim room — a north-facing room, a dark hallway, a shaded apartment — and you want a flowering plant that will tolerate it. Expect few flowers in deep shade: MU Extension says peace lily adapts to low light but needs medium light to flower. You want low-maintenance. You want a plant you can water on a loose schedule and not worry about much. NC State's "low-maintenance" designation is accurate. The tradeoff: it's toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach.
Get an anthurium if: You have a bright room with a south or west-facing window. You're willing to provide purified or rainwater, maintain higher humidity, and give it more attention overall. The reward is one of the most long-lasting, dramatic-looking flowers available in a houseplant — waxy, colorful spathes that last about six weeks each on the plant, per UF/IFAS. NC State's "high maintenance" designation is also accurate, so go in knowing that.
Neither plant is a good choice for a household where pets have unsupervised access to plants.
Frequently asked
Why does my anthurium have beautiful flowers in the shop but won't bloom at home?
Almost certainly a light issue. Anthurium blooms in response to bright indirect light — NC State recommends south or west-facing windows. Shops typically supplement with grow lighting to keep display plants looking their best. At home, in lower light conditions, anthurium produces leaves but stops flowering. Try moving it closer to a brighter window. If the room has no suitable window, supplemental LED grow lighting is the practical solution.
Is peace lily actually safe because it's "non-toxic" in some lists?
No. Peace lily is definitively toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA Peace Lily entry, with insoluble calcium oxalates as the toxic principle. The "mildly toxic" or "non-toxic" descriptions that appear in some wellness articles are incorrect. The confusion may stem from its reputation as an "air purifier," but the cat and dog listings are clear. Treat it as toxic and keep it out of reach of all pets.
What water should I use for anthurium?
NC State recommends rainwater or purified water for anthurium. Tap water can cause leaf tip browning and other stress symptoms over time, particularly if it's fluoridated or high in dissolved salts. Filtered water from a pitcher filter works. Rainwater collected in a clean container is ideal. If using tap water, let it sit in an open container for a day or so, as UConn Extension suggests, to allow chlorine to off-gas — though this addresses chlorine, not fluoride or mineral content.
Sources: Kew POWO — Spathiphyllum wallisii · NC State — Anthurium · NC State — Anthurium andraeanum · NC State — Spathiphyllum · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Anthuriums · MU Extension — Lighting Indoor Houseplants · UConn Extension — Watering Houseplants · ASPCA — Flamingo Flower (Anthurium) · ASPCA — Peace Lily