Do Peace Lilies Absorb Sound? Myth Or Fact?

Depending on their placement and number, plants can absorb up to 50% of the sound energy in a space. You can use indoor plants mainly for decorating our rooms or offices.

So, do peace lilies absorb sound? Is it actually true?

Peace Lilies Absorb Sound

The answer is yes. Peace lilies have some degree of sound-absorbing capabilities. The leaves of your peace lilies can help in absorbing certain frequencies of sound. It can contribute to a more pleasant acoustic environment.

But how can they do it?

You don’t need to brainstorm on it. In this article, you will learn about the capabilities of sound absorption of peace lilies. So, read the article.

Table of Contents

Main Factors:

Peace lilies have some degree of sound-absorbing capabilities.
Their dense foliage helps to absorb sound.
When other plants’ NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) is less than 0.35, peace lilies’ NRC is 0.50.

Do Peace Lilies Absorb Sound?

So, do peace lilies absorb sound? I know it sounds a bit shocking but it does actually. Indoor plants give an elegant touch in our room and office. Some indoor plants provide fresh air through their air purifying abilities. But Do indoor plants absorb noise?

Yes, there are several indoor plant species that can significantly absorb noise levels. Such as peace lily, rubber plants, lavender plants, and spider plants. Mainly their dense foliage helps to absorb sound.

Peace lilies are renowned indoor plants for their lush, glossy green leaves and distinctive white flowers. They are also known for their ability to purify indoor air.

But They also have a great ability to absorb sound.

The secret of sound absorbing properties lies in the large, broad leaves of these magical plants. Their leaves are flexible and porous. It makes them excellent at reducing noise levels.

Since peace lilies are popular for their aesthetic appeal, many people use artificial peace lilies. Now, it’s clear that real peace lilies can naturally absorb sound, but what about artificial peace lilies? Do artificial peace lilies absorb sound?

Well, artificial peace lilies can also absorb sound. You can say they have no natural porous structure on fleshy leaves as live peace lily plants, so how is it possible?

Actually, the leaves of artificial peace lilies are designed to mimic the thick, broad leaves of real peace lilies. It is effective in sound absorption. Their synthetic materials can help to reduce noise.

Some people say peace lilies are toxic; why do I plant this one?

It’s right they are slightly toxic, but by placing them safely, you can get more benefits from this incredible house plant.

Types Of Peace Lilies That Can Absorb Sound Well

There are approximately 47 recognized species of peace lily. And many of them can absorb sounds. The absorption rate can be different for their size, structure density of leaves, etc.

But 8 of them are very common types that can absorb sound well. They are also known for their ornamental appeal.

Types Of Peace Lilies That Can Absorb Sound Well

Spathiphyllum wallisii: They are commonly known as the Peace Lily. They have elegant white flowers and lush leaves. This variety is also recognized for their moderate ability to absorb sound. They can contribute to a more comfortable acoustic environment.
Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’: This cultivar of peace lilies popular for their larger size and robust foliage. Their broad leaves can be more effective in absorbing sound
Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’: This is one of the larger types of peace lily that has large, dark green leaves. As good as it looks, it can also absorb sound very well. Their increased leaf surface area may contribute to improved sound absorption compared to smaller varieties.
Spathiphyllum ‘Domino’: Their variegated foliage and dense plants can also absorb a particular frequency of sound.
Spathiphyllum ‘Little angel’: This compact dwarf specimen has deep green and glossy leaves. They are a lovely miniature version of the common household peace lily plant and can absorb a small amount of wave.
Spathiphyllum ‘White stripe’: They are popular for their white stripe on the center of the green leaves. It gives them an ornamental look. They also contribute to absorbing sound.

Spathiphyllum ‘Clevelandii’: While they are less common cultivars for households, they can play a significant role in absorbing sound.
Spathiphyllum ‘Jetty’: They have elegant white blooms and large peace lily that make them a good sound diffuser for your indoor spaces.

These plants just need their preferred environment to perform these qualities. They need adequate indirect light, water, and soi, and make sure to give Peace Lily the right amount of light. Otherwise, your peace lily will droop, and you can’t enjoy their soundproofing ability.

How Peace Lilies Absorb Sound?

Those indoor plants are excellent to absorb sound peace lily are best of them. When other plants’ NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) is less than 0.35, peace lilies NRC is 0.50.

Peace lily has a board and thick leaves that can mainly contribute to absorbing sound. They function like natural sound absorbing panels.

Peace lily utilizes three main mechanisms to reduce noise levels. Let’s see:

Deflection: When sound waves hit peace lily leaves, their flexible nature allows them to bend slightly. It helps to break up the sound waves and also deflect them in different directions.
Absorption: The porous structure of peace lily leaves can trap sound waves. Then it converts the sound energy into other forms. Such as minute amounts of heat, thereby reducing the noise that reaches the other side.
Refraction: Refraction is a process that bends the sound waves as they pass through the leaves. In this process, peace lilies can also change the trajectory and speed of sound, which helps to dissipate the sound.

Applying these processes, your peace lily absorbs sounds and provides you with comfortable acoustics in indoor spaces. Large plants can absorb more sound. You can use gibberellic acid on peace lily if their growth is stunned.

How Much Sound That Can Absorb Peace Lilies?

Peace lilies can indeed absorb sound. However, the absorption ability is not the same for all species. Various factors, such as the size of the leaves, the density of foliage, and the specific acoustic conditions of the space influence sound absorption.

Let’s see how much sound do peace lilies absorb?

Type of peace lily	Leaf Size	Estimated sound absorption
Spathiphyllum wallisii	Medium	2-3 db
Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa	Large	4-5 dB
Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’	Very Large	5-6 db
Spathiphyllum ‘Domino	Medium	2-3 db
Spathiphyllum ‘Little angel’	Small	1-2 db
Spathiphyllum ‘White stripe’:	Medium	2-3 db
Spathiphyllum ‘Clevelandii’	Large	4-5 db
Spathiphyllum ‘Jetty’:	Large	4-5 db

Here (db) is used to measure the intensity of sound and the higher number indicates greater absorption.

Note: Peace lilies can absorb sound but it can’t be a replacement for dedicated acoustic solutions in spaces where significant noise reduction is required.

Limitations To Using Peace Lilies For Sound Absorption

While your peace lily can contribute to sound absorption for your indoor spaces, there are some limitations to their effectiveness.

Let’s know what’s can affect their abilities:

Size and Quantity: One of the major factors that can greatly affect sound-absorbing capabilities is the size and numbers of your plants. A single plant can absorb minimal sounds compared to several larger plants.
Placement of plant: If you want your peace lily to absorb optimal sound, you have to place them around the room strategically. In larger rooms, a peace lily can’t be practical or aesthetically desirable.
Maintenance: While your peace lilies are easy to care for in indoors and outdoors. And don’t plant them cowardly. You have to provide them with desirable requirements. You also should keep the soil moist and water them thoroughly. A healthy plant can absorb more noise.
Expectations: While your peace lilies can help reduce noise levels of your rooms they cannot replace professional soundproofing solutions. Naturally they can absorb just a few amount of sound waves. So you should not keep more expectations like any sound absorbing materials.

Tip: If you need a perfect sound solution, then use sound absorbing materials. On the other hand, peace lilies are natural balcony noise reduction plants that can reduce some sound, but they won’t fulfill your desire.

What Plant Is Best For Noise Reduction?

When it comes to using plants for sound reduction, you should know that while many plants contribute to a more pleasant acoustic environment, they are not a replacement for dedicated acoustic solutions.

However, some plants are known for their ability to absorb sound. Now I will show some plants that are commonly considered for noise reduction:

Peace lily: Peace lilies are not only known for their aesthetic appeal but also for their ability to absorb sound. They use their leaves for deflection, absorption, and refraction to reduce noise from your indoor spaces.
Ficus elastica (Rubber Plant): They are known for their large and broad leaves. The Rubber Plant can help absorb sound and also create a visually appealing barrier to your home.
Dracaena species (Dragon Tree): Dracaena plants can also contribute to sound absorption with their tall, slender leaves. Often they are used decoratively in interior spaces.
Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant): Snake plants are very popular indoor plants. They have upright, stiff leaves that can help scatter and absorb sound. Their different types of leaves make them suitable for noise reduction.
Rhapis excelsa (Lady Palm): Lady Palms are excellent indoor plants that have dense foliage. And their fan-like leaves can contribute to sound absorption, especially in smaller spaces.
Aspidistra elatior (Cast Iron Plant): They are known for resilience. The Cast Iron Plant has large, leathery leaves that can help in sound absorption of indoor space.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Can Plants Reduce Noise?

Yes, Plants can reduce noise. Some plants are known for their ability to absorb noise such as peace lily, and snake plant. They use their leaves to absorb sound. They can do it through some mechanisms like absorption, deflection and refraction.

What Trees Are Best For Noise Reduction?

Which trees have dense foliage, rough bark, and a wide, tall structure are best for noise reduction. There are several trees like arborvitae(Thuja), bamboo, and spruce. They are fast growing sound barrier trees.

Can The Size Or Age Of A Peace Lily Affect Its Ability To Absorb Sound?

Yes, The size or age can affect its ability to absorb sound. Larger peace lily with more foliage can absorb more sound waves. Because they have increased surface area in their leaves. Because younger plants have less leaf surface.

Can Peace Lilies Be Used As Natural Sound Absorbers?

Sure, even peace lilies are the best natural sound absorbers. Their dense green foliage can deflect, absorb and refract the sounds. They can make a more comfortable acoustic space for us.

Final words

So, the summary of do peace lilies absorb sound is yes they can. Moreover, they are good sound absorbers. Their glossy leaves can absorb sound. When sound reflects on their leaves, it deflects the sounds and changes their direction. They also use refraction and absorption methods to make a more suitable acoustic space.

However several factors can decrease their sound absorption capabilities. I explained in detail about them in the Arctic.
So you have to deal promptly with this factor and take proper care you plants to get more health benefits.

Do Peace Lilies Absorb Sound? Natural Acoustic Solution