Bischerad: A Rare Pacific Island Native Worth Knowing
If you’ve never heard of bischerad (Spathiphyllum commutatum), you’re not alone. This intriguing native plant from the Pacific islands is one of nature’s quieter gems, quietly growing in its native territories of Guam and Palau while remaining largely unknown to gardeners elsewhere.
What Is Bischerad?
Bischerad is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the same genus as the popular houseplant peace lily. But don’t expect this Pacific native to behave exactly like its more famous cousins. As a forb—basically a fancy way of saying it’s a soft-stemmed plant without woody growth—bischerad maintains its leafy structure year after year without developing the thick, woody stems you’d find on shrubs or trees.
Where Does Bischerad Grow Naturally?
This plant calls the Pacific Basin home, specifically thriving in the tropical climates of Guam and Palau. It’s perfectly adapted to the unique conditions of these Pacific islands, making it a true native species in these locations.
Should You Consider Growing Bischerad?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While bischerad is undoubtedly an interesting plant with native credentials in its home range, there’s surprisingly little information available about its cultivation requirements, appearance, or garden performance. This lack of readily available growing information suggests it’s either:
- Not commonly cultivated outside its native range
- Primarily of interest to botanical specialists
- Challenging to grow in typical garden conditions
The Mystery of Growing Bischerad
Unfortunately, specific details about bischerad’s growing conditions, hardiness zones, and care requirements remain elusive. What we do know is that as a Pacific island native, it likely prefers:
- Warm, tropical or subtropical conditions
- High humidity levels
- Protection from harsh winds
- Well-draining soil
However, without concrete growing information, attempting to cultivate this plant would be quite the gardening adventure—and potentially a frustrating one.
What About Wildlife and Pollinator Benefits?
While many Spathiphyllum species do attract various pollinators and wildlife in their native habitats, the specific ecological relationships of bischerad remain undocumented in readily available sources. This is another piece of the puzzle that makes this plant more suitable for botanical research than backyard gardening.
The Bottom Line
Bischerad represents one of those fascinating plants that reminds us how much we still don’t know about the natural world. While it’s certainly an interesting species from a botanical perspective, the lack of cultivation information makes it a challenging choice for most gardeners.
If you’re gardening in Guam or Palau and encounter this plant naturally, consider yourself lucky to witness a true native in its element. For gardeners elsewhere looking for reliable, well-documented native plants, you might want to focus on species with more available growing information and proven garden performance.
Sometimes the most honest gardening advice is admitting when we simply don’t have enough information to make solid recommendations—and bischerad falls squarely into that category.
