Artificial Plants – A Guide to Choosing the Right Artificial Plant, Tree and Placement

Artificial plants are a practical choice when you want greenery without water, soil, daylight or ordinary plant care. They can work well in homes, offices, hotels, restaurants and shops where living plants are hard to place or where the look needs to stay consistent over time.

That doesn't mean every artificial plant suits every setting or looks equally lifelike. Material, colour, leaf shape, pot, scale and placement determine how good the result is. A well-chosen artificial plant should feel considered within the room, not like a quick substitute for a living plant.

What are artificial plants?

Artificial plants are plants made from synthetic, textile or combined materials that imitate living plants. They're also called faux plants or fake plants, depending on the style, material and context.

The range can include everything from small potted plants and hanging plants to large foliage, flowering arrangements, artificial plant walls and larger artificial trees. You can browse examples in our range and compare size, shape, leaf type and pot before choosing.

When do artificial plants work best?

Artificial plants work best when you want greenery without depending on light, watering or plant maintenance. They're especially useful in darker rooms, public settings, holiday homes, entrances, corridors, showrooms and offices where living plants easily become uneven over time.

At home, they can be a good option in rooms where you travel a lot, forget to water, or have difficult light conditions. In businesses, they can simplify upkeep, but the look only works well if quality, scale and placement are chosen with the same care as the rest of the decor. For office settings, there's a more focused guide to artificial plants for the office.

Artificial flowers, plants and trees

Artificial flowers

Artificial flowers can be used when you want colour, shape and a floral feel without fresh cut flowers. They often work well in hotels, restaurants, receptions and homes where the arrangement needs to last longer than an ordinary bouquet. The difference between simpler and more lifelike flowers often shows in colour variation, petal edges, stems and how the flowers fall in the vase.

Artificial potted plants

Artificial potted plants are easier to place than large installations and can be used on tables, shelves, floors and in corners where living plants don't thrive. If you want to compare two common choices, read the guide to artificial monstera and orchid. A good pot, the right height and some breathing room around the plant make it feel more integrated.

Artificial trees

Artificial trees are used when the room needs height, volume and a clear green shape. They often work well in entrances, hotel lobbies, larger living rooms and open office areas. Always check the canopy width, overall height, pot weight and how the tree looks from several angles.

Artificial, preserved or dried?

There are several ways to create greenery without ordinary plant care. Artificial plants are manufactured materials. Preserved plants are genuine natural materials that have been treated to keep their shape and feel. Dried flowers are genuine material with a drier, more sculptural character.

For a deeper comparison, read the guide to the difference between dried, preserved and artificial flowers.

How to choose the right artificial plant

Start with the room, not the product photo. A small plant can look great in a close-up but get lost on a wide shelf. A large tree can look impressive in a photo but become too dominant in a low-ceilinged room. So measure both the space and the viewing distance before you choose.

• Choose the height based on ceiling height, furniture and how close people get to the plant.
• Check the leaves' colour variation, surface, direction and level of detail.
• Choose a pot that suits the room, not just the plant's inner pot.
• Group several plants at different heights for a more natural look.
• Avoid too many different green tones if the room already has a lot of colour.
• Check UV and outdoor suitability before placing a plant in strong sun or outdoors.

Placement in homes and businesses

At home, artificial plants often work well in hallways, living rooms, bedrooms, home offices and darker corners. Bathrooms can work better for artificial plants than for dried or preserved materials, but moisture, cleaning products and ventilation should still be considered.

In professional settings, you need to think more about operations. Hotels, restaurants, shops and offices have cleaning, customer flow and wear in a different way than private homes. There, artificial plants, artificial trees or artificial plant walls can be practical when you want a green look without a living plant system.

Care and cleaning

Artificial plants need no watering, pruning or feeding, but they do need to be kept clean. Dust quickly makes even a good-quality artificial plant look less lifelike. Use a duster, a soft microfibre cloth or gentle cool air on a low setting.

Some leaves can be wiped with a slightly damp cloth, but avoid strong cleaning products unless the product is designed for it. In restaurants, shops and hotels, the cleaning routine should be adapted to the material, placement and how much dust or grease is present in the space.

Checklist before buying

1. Measure the space. Check the height, width, ceiling height and viewing distance.
2. Decide on the purpose. Should the plant fill a corner, frame an entrance or add a softer green feel?
3. Choose the quality. Look at the leaves' finish, colour variation and proportions.
4. Choose the right pot. A good outer pot makes a big difference to the overall impression.
5. Plan the cleaning. Choose a placement where dusting and wiping are possible.
6. Check the environment. Sun, moisture, heat and wear affect the choice of material.
7. Compare alternatives. Artificial, preserved and dried suit different needs.

Frequently asked questions about artificial plants