Can You Plant Peace Plants Outside in South Carolina?

Hardiness

• South Carolina's climate includes U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7a through 9a. Most peace lilies grow as perennials in USDA zones 11 through 12, which is outside South Carolina’s hardiness range. Some cultivars, such as “Clevelandii” and “Wallisii” grow in USDA zones 10b through 11, but this range is still outside South Carolina’s hardiness area. This means you can't grow peace lilies outdoors year-round in South Carolina.

Cold Damage

• Peace lilies do best when the daytime temperatures are between 68 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and when nighttime lows drop no more than 10 F from the daily high. Although the plants are not damaged when temperatures dip to around 40 to 50 F, they may grow more slowly. When temperatures remain consistently below 40 F for five days, the plants may suffer permanent damage or they could die. If you've left a peace lily outside on a cold night, the cold-damaged foliage may turn brown or black. If you see green growth near the soil's surface, new shoots may develop from the unharmed roots. Remove any damaged foliage because it cannot regenerate.

Outside Care

• You can move a peace lily outside in South Carolina after nighttime temperatures are above 50 F. Whether you leave it in its container, or plant it directly in your garden, find a spot that is out of direct sun so its leaves do not scorch. Keep the peace lily in deep shade. Although it must have well-draining soil, peace lily grows best in moist soil that is allowed to dry slightly between waterings. Its most common cultural problem is under-watering. This causes the plant to droop severely, which is called “crashing.” Typically, watering the peace lily restores it. When nighttime autumn temperatures near 50 F, move peace lily back inside for the winter. If you planted it in the ground, you'll need to dig it up and pot it in a container.

Considerations

• When your peace lily’s white hood turns a greenish color, it doesn’t mean something is wrong. Although it’s a natural progression as the flowers age, the blooms may turn green more quickly on outdoor plants than on houseplants. The showy, white spathe attracts pollinators to the central spadix flowers. Because pollinators are typically more abundant outdoors, your peace lily may be pollinated more quickly in the garden. After the flowers are pollinated, the spathe has fulfilled its function and loses its white color. Peace lily is poisonous to people, cats and dogs, so keep it out of the reach of curious household members.