Is A Peace Lily A Bulb Plant? Difference Between Bulbs And Rhizomes

Peace lilies are gorgeous plants that can add elegance and freshness to your home.

As a peace lily enthusiast, you should know the right information about peace lilies.  As it is also related to their care. So, dive into the article to know if peace lily is not a bulb plant then what’s their actual root structure.

What Does Bulb Plant Mean?

You might wonder what does bulb plant means; you have never seen one like this plant. But I can say you have already seen a bulb plant but may not know what is called a bulb. Did you know like onions, garlic, tulips, hyacinth, and daffodils. All of them are called bulb plants. 

A bulb plant is a type of plant that has a modified stem that stores food and nutrients underground. Their stem is usually round or oval, and it is covered by fleshy or dry scales that are actually modified leaves.

A bulb plant can survive unfavorable conditions such as winter or drought. At this time, they go dormant and use the stored food to grow again when the conditions improve.

Bulb plants can reproduce vegetatively, meaning they can produce new plants without sexual reproduction. They can also produce flowers faster than seed plants because they already have mature buds inside the bulb.

Gardeners often appreciate bulb plants for their ability to provide vibrant and seasonal displays in gardens. 

Is A Peace Lily A Bulb Plant?

Peace lilies are popular houseplants that can brighten up any indoor space. They have glossy green leaves and ornamental white flowers that emerge from long stalks. 

You may have heard that a peace lily is a bulb plant, but is that true? Do peace lilies have bulbs ?

The real answer is no, they have no bulbs, and they are not really a bulb plant. The reason why a peace lily is not a bulb plant is because of its different anatomy and origin. 

A peace lily belongs to the arum family, which includes other plants with similar leaf bracts, such as calla lilies and anthuriums. On the other hand, a bulb plant  belongs to the monocot group, which includes grasses, palms, orchids, and true lilies. 

Additionally, Peace lilies are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Asia, where they grow in moist and shady habitats. And bulb plants are widely distributed across the world, and they have adapted to various climates and seasons. 

Another difference is that the peace lily has a thick, fleshy rhizome that can store water and nutrients, and it can produce new plants from buds or cuttings. And bulb plant has a compact, spherical stem that is surrounded by layers of scales that are actually modified leaves. 

To be a bulb plant, a peace lily should have a modified stem that can store water and nutrients underground. But when you remove your peace lily from soil, you will see there are no modified stems underground but rhizomes. So it’s clear that is a peace lily a bulb plant or plant.

Difference Between Bulb Plant And Peace Lily

Let’s see some differences between bulb plant and peace lily. It will help you to be more sure about is a peace lily a bulb plant indoors or not: 

Characteristic	Bulb Plant	Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Botanical name	Various, such as Lilium, Tulipa, Narcissus, etc.	Spathiphyllum spp.
Plant type	Perennial plants that grow from bulbs	Tropical, evergreen plants that grow from rhizomes
Growth Characteristics	Bulbs typically produce a single main stem with flowers	Rhizomes produce multiple stems and leaves, creating a bushy appearance
Foliage	They have narrow, linear, or lance-shaped leaves	They have broad, glossy, oval leaves
Light requirement	They can thrive in direct sunlight to partial shade, depending on the species	They prefer partial shade and bright indirect light to low light
Adaptability	Adapted to a variety of climates depending on the bulb type	They are native to tropical regions, adapted to low-light conditions; less cold-tolerant
Hardiness zones	Varies, depending on the species	11-12 (USDA)
Toxicity	Maximum is not toxic. Some are toxic to pets and people, such as true lilies	Toxic to pets and people, As it contain calcium oxalate crystals
Storage Organ	Stores nutrients in an underground bulb.	Does not have a bulb; stores Nutrients in a rhizome

What Type Of Plant Is A Peace Lily?

Some people want to know do peace lilies grow from bulbs? Then I replied, no, they are not. Now, you can ask if peace lilies are not a bulb plant then what type of plants are they? 

There are differences in answers. Some people call peace lily a type of tropical, evergreen plant. Additionally, some call it a type of flowering plant that can produce beautiful white flags-like flowers all year round. 

Actually, both are correct; they are attractive indoor foliage plants that produce showy white flowers. They belong to the Araceae family. Specifically, it is part of the Spathiphyllum genus.

Peace lilies have around 47 different species. They are native to tropical regions of Central and South America. But they are renowned all over the world for their elegant appearance, featuring glossy, dark green leaves and striking white blooms.

Also peace lilies are classified as a rhizomatous perennial. Unlike bulb plants that store nutrients in underground bulbs, Peace Lilies have a rhizome—a horizontal, underground stem from which roots and shoots emerge. 

One of the notable characteristics of peace lilies is their ability to thrive in low-light conditions, which makes them popular indoor plants. They are appreciated not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their air-purifying qualities and sound absorption abilities.

What Is The Peace Lily Root Structure?

The main part that separates peace lilies from other perennials is their roots. If you ever remove your peace lily plant from its pot, you will see they have a compact root system. 

It has a distinctive root structure that plays a crucial role in its growth and adaptation to its native tropical environments. Peace lily’s root structure consists of two main parts such as: 

1. The roots
2. The rhizomes

The Roots

The roots are the thin, hair-like structures that grow downwards from the rhizomes and anchor the plant in the soil. They also absorb water and nutrients from the soil and transport them to the rest of the plant. 

These roots typically form a fibrous system, with numerous thin, branching roots emerging from the base of the plant. One interesting aspect of the Peace Lily’s root structure is its adaptability to low-light conditions. 

To maintain optimal root health you have to water them properly. Peace lilies are not a very thirsty plant. They are very sensitive to overwater. It can lead to root rot and other fungal diseases. On the other hand, underwatering can stun their growth. Water them only when the top inch of soil feels dry to touch. 

The Rhizome

The rhizomes are the thick, underground stems that store food reserves for your plant. They also produce new shoots and leaves, as well as offshoots that can be separated and propagated. 

Rhizomes grow horizontally beneath the soil surface, it’s also called root ball. It allows for efficient nutrient storage and lateral expansion. Rhizomes enhance your plant’s adaptability, enabling it to thrive in changing environmental conditions.

How Do Peace Lilies Reproduce?

Peace lilies are very popular indoor plants that can grow in low maintenance. You can also reproduce these beneficial houseplant plants easily and can multiply their number. It allows you to share these incredible plants with friends and families. 

Peace lilies reproduce by two main methods:

• Asexual reproduction
• Sexual reproduction

Let’s detailed out these: 

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is the most common and easiest way to propagate peace lilies. It involves dividing the plant into smaller plants that have their own roots and leaves. 

To propagate your peace lilies by asexual reproduction, you need a mature plant. It should have several clumps of foliage emerging from the soil. These clumps are the offshoots of the mother plant, and they have their own root systems. 

If you want to separate them, you need to remove the plant from its pot and gently shake off the excess soil. Then, you can use a sharp knife to cut through the roots and divide your plant into two or more sections. Each section should have at least one crown (the base of the leaves) and some roots. 

Now you can replant each section in a new pot with a fresh potting mix. You have to be conscious about their watering. You have to keep them in a warm and bright location. They should start growing new leaves and flowers in a few weeks

Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction is the process of producing seeds from the flowers of peace lilies. It requires pollination by insects or humans, and it results in more genetic variation among the offspring. 

If you want to propagate peace lilies by sexual reproduction, you need to collect seeds from the flowers of peace lilies. Peace lilies produce both male and female flowers, but they do not open at the same time. 

The female flowers open first and close after a few days, and then the male flowers open and release pollen. This prevents self-pollination and ensures cross-pollination by insects or humans.

If you want to pollinate the flowers by hand, you need to use a small brush or cotton swab to transfer pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. You can also cut off a spadix with male flowers and rub it against a spadix with female flowers. After pollination, you will see the spathe is turning green and the spadix is developing small berries that contain the seeds. 

When the berries turn red, you can harvest them and extract the seeds. Then you have to sow the seeds in a moist potting mix and cover them lightly with soil. Keep them in a warm and humid place that can mimic their native environment. And also water them regularly. 

Finally the seeds should germinate in a few weeks, but they may take several years to grow into mature plants. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Conclusion

At last I just want to say, if you are a peace lily lover then you should know all the right information about this plant. Suppose, you are thinking peace lily is a bulb plant, but they are actually not. Then you will try to treat them like a bulb plant. As a result it will be wilting and gradually die also.

As peace lilies do have not any modified stems underground, you don’t need to think about is a peace lily a bulb plant or not. If you can see the peace lily root system, you will find there are two parts of the root such as rhizome and thin roots. So Peace lilies are rhizomatous perennial. 
Their reproduction methods are also different from bulb plants, as you can see in the article. For more information hit the Plant_Trick.