50 Best Artificial Plants 2023

Jun 01, 2023

50 items in this article 11 items on sale!

50 items in this article 11 items on sale!

While it's easier than ever to buy live plants online, sometimes, despite our best intentions, those live plants become, well, dead plants. Artificial plants — fake plants, silk plants, faux foliage, or whatever you want to call them — offer a solution. They’ll never outgrow their pots, the leaves will never droop and turn yellow, and there's no need to worry about watering or fertilizing. They’re also pet-safe and child-safe.

Like any living plant, artificial plants make a room feel vibrant and welcoming, and we doubt that anyone will know the difference once they’re displayed on a nice plant stand or positioned on a high shelf. We found some small options if you want to be subtle, like succulents and an agave plant — in general, plants that naturally have firm, waxy leaves make good faux foliage candidates, so succulents are a safe bet. We also found larger options for those unafraid to go all out, including a big statement ficus tree and a monstera. If you already have something in mind, use these links to jump around to the floor plants, hanging plants, tabletop plants, succulents, and outdoor faux plants we’ve curated below.

Go big or go home, right? Lemon trees can actually grow inside, and the variation in the leaves, along with creative potting on your part, are all you need to convince guests that this is real.

Ikea has a number of plants, including pretty convincing artificial ones. Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell even has one friend that accidentally bought a fake Ikea plant thinking it was real. This bamboo tree is nice and full, so it’ll look like you have a green thumb, but isn't so full that it's not believable.

If a small viny plant comes to mind when you hear philodendron, think again. This one grows tall like a tree and will make a statement in your space.

A four-foot-tall fiddle-leaf fig that's never going to die on you. This one has natural color variations on the tree bark and leaves, including creasing and texture just like the real deal. This tree is pleasantly proportioned compared to other "overstuffed" faux fiddles with big clusters of leaves.

Birds of paradise are one of those plants that almost look fake even when they’re real, so save yourself the trouble and go faux. This five-foot-tall artificial bird of paradise — complete with irregular leaf tears and crinkles — looks just as beautiful as a live one.

If you already have a bird of paradise plant, consider this banana leaf. They have similar broad, oblong leaves, but this one is about two feet smaller than the plant above.

Another status-y floor plant is the split-leaf philodendron. Target sells some of the best-looking artificial plants we’ve seen, and this one is a real showstopper.

If you want to spend a good bit less and still get a realistic-looking split-leaf plant, this faux monstera is a good choice.

This six-foot-tall ficus has a delicate look, with its long and slender trunk and intricately detailed leaves. (The manufacturer's product description says it has "1,008 individual leaves.")

This is a particularly impressive imitation of the very on-trend variegated rubber tree. At about two feet tall, it's a bit smaller than the other artificial floor plants on this list, but would look perfect perched on a plant stand.

West Elm sells a more traditional-looking faux rubber plant with thick, dark-colored leaves. And while it doesn't come with a planter, the retailer has a ton of those to choose from, too.

Get vertical with this faux palm tree that towers more than six feet high. Stick with a simple planter since the tree makes a statement on its own.

Less obvious than a palm tree, this faux yucca plant will give you a similar tropical vibe.

Real dracaena plants can be a bit temperamental and are even toxic to some pets, so save yourself the trouble with this faux version. It gives off tropical vibes and is dense, with 64 natural-looking leaves that can be adjusted.

Snake plants are pretty hard to kill, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. This looks just like the real thing, and it even comes with a minimalist black planter.

This tall Sonoran candelabra will bring the desert to you in no time, minus the heat.

With long blades of grass and eight tall cattail stems, this plant looks nearly identical to the real thing.

This tradescantia zebrina hanging bush has the statement plant trifecta: It hangs, grows in a dramatic sprawling vine, and shows beautiful variation in color, including pink.

If you like the idea of a winding, viny plant but are afraid it’ll grow unruly, this faux hanging variegated string of hearts won't get any bigger.

If you’re too much of a purist to go totally fake, the plant people at the Sill offer some preserved plants like this hanging preserved fern potted in a Japanese moss ball. Like fake plants, this one doesn't require any maintenance, but it's also nontoxic and environmentally friendly (in other words, it's not plastic like most fake plants).

The details and shading on the leaves of this hanging spider plant make it nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.

Display this retro silk Boston fern in a brass planter in your living room, or outdoors over your porch.

If you’re getting an artificial hanging plant, you might as well buy something that would be near impossible to successfully grow indoors, like this always blooming, bright-pink bougainvillea.

Ikea's faux string-of-bananas plant is so inexpensive that you can splurge on a design-y hanging pot.

Have a little fun with your faux plant and introduce this polka-dot begonia into your décor.

If you were inspired by Chloë Sevigny's wedding, look no further than this detailed baby's-breath arrangement.

And if you’d rather create your own design, Afloral makes highly realistic spring and summer blooms.

"Pot" a single leaf yourself — it's another cool take on the tabletop plant. As pictured, put this maguey in a glass vase with some pebbles for extra dimension.

This mini tabletop plant has silvery green eucalyptus leaves, comes in a modern white melamine pot, and is somehow just $5.

And if you’re searching for something lusher, this eucalyptus plant is 12 inches wider than the one above.

This chartreuse-colored maidenhair fern is similar to those you might find in the wild this spring, but this one will look fresh all year round.

Want more drama? This all-black fern definitely stands out.

These artificial anthurium stems come in a range of colors, from classic red to black, and would make a dramatic centerpiece.

This hoya heart plant comes in a textured cream pot, and at nearly eight inches tall, it could go on a windowsill, shelf, or TV stand.

Go for this flat cactus bundled with West Elm's ceramic planter, or buy the prickly plant individually and use your own pot.

The leaves on this fake plant are bendable, so you can customize this plant into a shape that looks more natural.

Lavender retains its rich color even after drying. This preserved bouquet is just as stunning as fresh lavender, but will last for much longer and won't require any watering. Arranged in a vase, it would make a nice kitchen-table centerpiece or bathroom-counter accoutrement.

We love the realistic and vibrant green color of the leaves on this pothos plant.

Get the bonsai look without worrying about delicate trimming and upkeep.

This agave succulent features a plant stand that would make an impressive centerpiece on a coffee table or in your dining room.

There's plenty of color in this succulent arrangement, from red-tinged echeveria to mini-yucca.

A ten-inch wide pot like this will make the perfect centerpiece on a dining or coffee table.

This realistic faux jade is perfect for the person who loves the plant but doesn't want to fuss over succulent-friendly soil blends.

Decorate your desk with some fake succulents that won't mind if you take an extra-long weekend.

If you lack countertop space, a vertical succulent like this one will fit in the corner of a bookshelf. Bonus: The neutral vessel is bound to survive your next sudden urge to redecorate.

If you’re not into taking care of houseplants, we take it you’re not into landscaping either — and there's faux plants for that, too. Get two of these to flank your front door, along with some decorative pots, and never worry about them again.

An overflow of Gleditsia leaves spills from this hanging cone-shaped basket for a lush look. Hang it near a sliding patio door or next to your kitchen shelves.

Afloral also makes UV-protected outdoor plants that won't fade after months out on a sunny porch.

This four-foot-tall cedar pine will last the entire year without the care a live tree needs. Plop it into your own pot or basket for instant curb appeal.

Brighten your porch planters or one of the above hanging baskets with this fake, UV-protected geranium bush.

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