Peace Lily vs Spider Plant
The spider plant is the pet-safe one and shrugs off dry air. The peace lily flowers in lower light but is toxic to cats and dogs.
Spider Plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Peace Lily is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it needs a shelf pets cannot reach. Peace Lily needs low to medium light (2/5) - fine a few metres back from a window. Spider Plant wants medium indirect light (3/5), near a bright window, out of direct sun.
What they share: both are rated easy, both take moderate watering and both stay medium.
Choose
Peace Lily if…
- ✓your spot is the dimmer of the two - it manages on low to medium light
- ✓it will live in a bathroom, kitchen or a humidified room
- ✓it can go somewhere pets genuinely cannot reach
- ✓you would rather not prune and repot often
Choose
Spider Plant if…
- ✓you have a bright window to give it (medium indirect light)
- ✓your home runs dry in winter and you will not add a humidifier
- ✓cats or dogs chew your plants - this one is non-toxic
- ✓you want visible growth and free cuttings quickly
Peace Lily vs Spider Plant: side by side
| Attribute |
Peace Lily
|
Spider Plant
|
|---|---|---|
| Plant type | Flowering | Trailing |
| Difficulty | easy | easy |
| Light | ●●○○○ 2/5 Low to medium light |
●●●○○ 3/5 Medium indirect light |
| Water | ●●●○○ 3/5 Moderate |
●●●○○ 3/5 Moderate |
| Humidity | ●●●●○ 4/5 Above average |
●●○○○ 2/5 Low |
| Pet safe | Toxic to cats and dogs | Safe |
| Mature size | Medium 30-90 cm (1-3 ft) |
Medium 30-90 cm (1-3 ft) |
| Growth rate | Moderate | Fast |
| Air purifying | Yes | Yes |
| Native to | Central America | South Africa |
Key differences between Peace Lily and Spider Plant
Spider Plant is pet-safe, Peace Lily is not
Spider Plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Peace Lily is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it needs a shelf pets cannot reach.
Peace Lily copes with less light
Peace Lily needs low to medium light (2/5) - fine a few metres back from a window. Spider Plant wants medium indirect light (3/5), near a bright window, out of direct sun.
Peace Lily needs damper air
Peace Lily rates 4/5 for humidity - group plants or run a humidifier in winter. Spider Plant rates 2/5, so ordinary room air is fine.
Spider Plant fills out faster
Spider Plant is a fast grower and gives you cuttings or a full pot sooner. Peace Lily is moderate, which means less pruning and repotting but a longer wait.
Different plant types: flowering vs trailing
Peace Lily is a flowering plant and Spider Plant is a trailing plant, so they fill different jobs in a room even when their care overlaps.
They come from different habitats
Peace Lily originates in Central America; Spider Plant in South Africa. Matching the original habitat is the quickest way to guess what each one wants indoors.
How to tell Peace Lily and Spider Plant apart
The peace lily tells you when it is thirsty -- it wilts dramatically, then recovers within hours of a drink -- which makes it oddly good for people who water on instinct. The spider plant never signals; it just keeps producing plantlets on arching stems that you can snip off and root in water.
Care at a glance
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum
Elegant white flowers and glossy leaves. One of the best air purifying plants. Droops dramatically when thirsty.
Care in one line: Low to medium light, keep moist, high humidity.
Full Peace Lily care guide →
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum Comosum, Airplane Plant
Classic houseplant with arching leaves and baby plantlets. Safe for pets and great for beginners.
Care in one line: Bright indirect light, even moisture, produces babies.
Full Spider Plant care guide →Peace Lily vs Spider Plant: common questions
What is the difference between Peace Lily and Spider Plant? +
The peace lily tells you when it is thirsty -- it wilts dramatically, then recovers within hours of a drink -- which makes it oddly good for people who water on instinct. The spider plant never signals; it just keeps producing plantlets on arching stems that you can snip off and root in water. On care, spider Plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Peace Lily is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it needs a shelf pets cannot reach.
Which is easier to care for, Peace Lily or Spider Plant? +
Neither - both are rated easy. The practical difference is spider plant is pet-safe, peace lily is not.
Is Peace Lily or Spider Plant safe for cats and dogs? +
Spider Plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Peace Lily is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep it out of reach or choose the Spider Plant.
Which needs less light, Peace Lily or Spider Plant? +
Peace Lily. It scores 2/5 for light and fine a few metres back from a window. Spider Plant scores 3/5 and near a bright window, out of direct sun.
Which needs more water, Peace Lily or Spider Plant? +
Neither - both score 3/5. For each one, water when the top 2-3 cm is dry, roughly weekly.
Comparing something else?
Put any two or three of our 116 houseplants head to head on light, water, humidity, size and pet safety.
Build your own comparison →