A red peace lily is an anthurium, not a true peace lily. It’s a tropical houseplant grown for its glossy red, heart-shaped spathes, which last for weeks. Give it bright, indirect light, keep it between 70 and 85°F (21 to 29°C), and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Don’t let it dry out all the way or sit in water. Feed it with a diluted fertilizer about once a month indoors. All parts are toxic to cats, dogs, and people if chewed.
Want more flowers? Move the plant to brighter, indirect light, since low light cuts flowering. Seeing brown leaf tips? Check for both drying out and fertilizer buildup. Have a cold room or a drafty window? Keep it above 60°F (16°C). Have pets or small children? Place it out of reach, or choose a nontoxic plant. Deciding between a red and a white peace lily? Both need similar care, but the red one is a different plant, with flat red spathes and heart-shaped leaves.
Red peace lily plant basics
Red peace lilies are anthuriums, in the arum family (Araceae). The most common red-flowered type, Anthurium andraeanum, is native to tropical Colombia and Ecuador, where it grows as an epiphyte in warm, humid, shaded rainforests, according to NC State Extension.
Anthurium is a large genus. Most anthurium plants with red flowers are bred from Anthurium andraeanum and sometimes Anthurium scherzerianum. NC State notes that the spathes of A. andraeanum may be red, pink, orange, or white.
The common name is misleading. Red peace lily plants are not true lilies (because they are not in the genus Lilium). They are also not in the same genus as white peace lilies. But the flowers of all these plants we call lilies do share a similar appearance! See the comparison section below for photos and a description of similarities and differences.
Anthurium species are often called the “flamingo flower” and the red-flowered types are sold as red peace lilies. They are popular houseplants and long-lasting cut flowers, and NC State lists them as hardy outdoors only in Zones 11 and 12.
The showy part is a glossy, heart-shaped bract called a spathe. It surrounds a straight spike called a spadix, which holds the tiny true flowers. As a houseplant, it grows 1 to 1.5 feet tall with glossy, heart-shaped leaves up to 12 inches long. The ASPCA lists anthurium as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. NC State notes it is toxic to people if eaten, and UF/IFAS warns that the sap can irritate skin.
Care basics
Red peace lilies like bright, indirect light, moist but well-drained soil, and warm, humid air. NC State lists an ideal range of 65 to 80°F (18 to 27°C) with 60 to 80 percent humidity. UF/IFAS recommends 70 to 85°F (21 to 29°C) indoors and warns that temperatures below 55°F (13°C) can damage the plant.
Misting helps clean dust off the leaves and raises humidity for a short time, according to UF/IFAS. A tray of moist gravel under the pot also helps.
Choose a pot with drainage holes. These plants like moist soil, but not soggy soil.
How to care for red peace lily plants
With their bright red spathes, they make an eye-catching addition to your home. Here’s how to keep them healthy and flowering.
Light requirements
Place your red peace lily in bright, indirect light, such as near a window but out of direct sun. NC State Extension warns that direct sun can scorch the leaves and that too little light cuts flower production. UF/IFAS found that some cultivars kept flowering for over a year and a half in low indoor light, so cultivar matters too.
Watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, as NC State recommends, and water until it drains from the bottom. Don’t let the pot sit in water. A Florida State Horticultural Society paper notes that anthuriums don’t like to dry out all the way, since drying out can cause tip burn, root damage, and slower growth. Overwatering, on the other hand, leads to root rot.
Fertilizer
Indoors, UF/IFAS suggests a balanced 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer at a low rate about once a month. Too much fertilizer builds up salts in the soil and burns the leaf edges and tips. Flush the pot with plain water now and then to wash out extra salts.
Temperature & humidity
Anthuriums don’t go dormant in winter, and UF/IFAS lists them as plants that keep growing and flowering indoors. Keep them warm all year, at 70 to 85°F (21 to 29°C). Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes, as NC State advises, and keep them away from heaters, air conditioners, and appliances that give off heat. In dry winter air, use a humidifier or a pebble tray.
Pruning
Cut off spent flowers and yellow or dead leaves at the base of their stems. UF/IFAS recommends removing faded flowers as needed.
Repotting
Repot every 2 to 3 years, or when the plant becomes rootbound, as NC State suggests. Spring is the best time. Use a pot with plenty of drainage holes.
Anthuriums need an airy, well-drained mix. UF/IFAS describes commercial mixes of equal parts peat, perlite, and bark.
Common plant care problems
Overwatering is one of the most common problems with red peace lilies. Soggy soil leads to root rot, which causes wilting and yellow leaves. NC State also lists poor drainage and a lack of nutrients as causes of yellowing leaves. Check the soil with your finger or a moisture meter before you water.
NC State Extension lists aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale as pests to watch for. Spider mites cause yellow stippling on the leaves. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil can control them. Follow the label and repeat as directed.
Moist soil can attract small flies, including shore flies and fungus gnats. You can cover the surface with about half an inch of dry sand or gravel, which Ask Extension says keeps adult gnats from laying eggs. Consider beneficial nematodes too (see video above). Colorado State University Extension says the nematode Steinernema feltiae is effective against fungus gnat larvae.
Mealybugs are small, white, cottony insects that feed on sap and leave behind sticky honeydew. Sooty mold can then grow on the honeydew. Treat them with insecticidal soap, following the label.
Aphids feed on new growth and can distort young leaves. Rinse them off with water or treat with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
NC State notes that leaf spots can show up when air circulation is poor or the leaves stay wet. Water the soil rather than the leaves, remove spotted leaves, and give the plant room for air to move around it.
Differences between the red peace lily and the regular white peace lily
The red peace lily (Anthurium species) is grown for its red spathes. The regular peace lily (Spathiphyllum species) is known for its white, spoon-shaped spathes. Both are in the arum family, Araceae, and both have a spadix surrounded by a spathe. The ASPCA lists both as toxic to cats and dogs.
One of the main differences is how they look. Anthurium spathes are flat and glossy, while peace lily spathes are white and curl upward around the spadix. Anthurium leaves are heart-shaped, while peace lily leaves are more oval and lance-shaped.
They also grow in different ways in nature. Anthurium andraeanum is an epiphyte that grows on other plants, according to NC State.
Both are low-maintenance houseplants. Both like bright, indirect light, protection from direct sun, and soil that stays moist but not waterlogged.
Red peace lily FAQ
Is a red peace lily a real peace lily?
No. A red peace lily is an anthurium. True peace lilies are in the genus Spathiphyllum, and both belong to the arum family.
How often should you water a red peace lily?
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and let the extra water drain away. Don’t let it dry out all the way or sit in water.
Why is my red peace lily not flowering?
Low light is the most common cause. NC State Extension says too little light or a lack of nutrients can cut flower production.
Is a red peace lily toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists anthurium as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses because of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mouth.
Where to buy a red peace lily and what it needs
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The plant
The Sill sells the red anthurium, the plant often sold as a red peace lily, and ships it in a planter, ready for a shelf. On Etsy, one shop sells red anthuriums in 4-inch pots.
A moisture meter
An XLUX soil moisture meter keeps a peace lily from the overwatering that browns the leaf tips.
A mister
A fine-mist spray bottle gives it the humidity it wants in winter.
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