Roundup: Faux Plants & Trees
Above, in this spec house we designed and staged we used faux greenery like the topiary next to the sink and the maidenhair fern in the entry!
I have a confession: I’m a murderer. Of plants. I have killed SO many fiddle leaf fig trees I should be given a medal of some kind. The only plant I have ever kept alive for a significant period of time is an olive topiary I bought at Brimfield three years ago. Yes, THREE YEARS. It sits next to my sink and I always remember to water it because, well, it’s next to said source of water and my coffee maker. It’s pretty hard to forget. Other than that- no matter how “easy to care for” things are, I kill them. So I have implemented some faux greenery into my own home. At first, it was begrudgingly, as I always prefer real and fresh greens- but it can get really expensive and tedious to replace fresh greenery constantly. Plus, cleaning out a vase of smelly old water you’ve neglected is disgusting.
Faux greenery and plants have gotten SO much better over the years, and I feel like more people are opening their arms to using them. I have a few rules/ tips for using faux greenery in such a way that it’ll look the most natural and fool the most people :)
- skip the flowers- I still cannot get on board with faux flowers, so matter how realistic. Stick to non-flowering branches, potted plants, topiaries and trees.
- Look for fakes with the most natural, toned down color- skip the un-naturally bright green ones.
- Look for types of plants and branches that look faux even when real- succulents, rubbery-leaf plants, and greenery with small leaves.
- Use drop-in plant styles you can put into any pots you want and then use preserved moss to cover the base.
- If using branches in a vase, either use an opaque vase to conceal the stems, or if using a clear vase, put water in it first so that it looks more real!
- If using faux topiaries in outdoor planters surround the base with real dirt and plants that are easy to swap out- it makes the overall look much more realistic.
Here’s a round up of some great options for faux greenery!
CLICK IMAGES FOR LINKS (except for the few items linked below image)!
TOPIARIES: fourth, fifth
POTTED PLANTS: first row: first, second row: second
Browse:
Thank you [for all of the examples]!!! I can grow anything on the OUTSIDE of my home… the inside is a different story, not due to light or skill, but thanks to a pack of vicious plant eaters [cats]. Great faux is also a good way to go for second home owners without full time property management.
[…] • I officially have Grim Reaper status when it comes to live houseplants. If you can’t keep a plant alive (like me) here are the BEST FAUX PLANTS THAT CANNOT BE KILLED! […]
Can you share the source for the entry table?
Hi Erin,
I’m Corey, I live in San Francisco and I just wanted to drop you a little note to tell you how grateful I am for you. I absolutely love interior design, and have deeply enjoyed learning from your book, blog, and instagram! Just wanted to tell you that you’re so good at your job. Keep doin what you’re doin. It.is.amazing.
NDI has beautiful faux greenery, trees, flowers, etc. I believe Studio McGee sources some of their faux stuff from them. I received an email from NDI 2 days ago with a code for 25% off right now with code Fresher25. I have no affiliation with them and have never actually purchased from them (I don’t have the budget for it at the moment), but I frequently lust over their gorgeous stuff. Some day!
All great suggestions. Any recommendations for XL boston ferns for my front porch? Mine never get enough water and end up dying by end of summer. Thanks!
I’d love anyone’s comment on faux orchids. I’ve bought a couple from our local florist who has done nice arrangements with real moss, branches, and rocks, I think they look nice (and real). But, I sort of wonder what other people think on the orchid issue. I have 1 in my powder bath and one in my entry.
Very timely for me! Still working on my new house we moved into last July. Have a faux fiddle leaf dig and a real peace lily. It’s great to see all the faux plants you included and places to buy them. Thanks and can’t wait for the new book!
I have been waiting for this post from someone for years! Thank you!
Ugh – I can relate living plants never last long here! I kept my fiddle leaf alive for a while (mainly because you barely ever need to water them). But then my toddler karate chopped it recently with a drum stick and it is turning brown! Need a faux one for sure :)
http://www.erinwalshdesign.com
Hello,
When I hover over the very top left potted plant that looks like oxalis/shamrocks, it won’t reveal where that particular cute little plant can be purchased? Is it an oxalis – I’ve only been able to find realistic faux oxalis in England (Trouva)?!
Would love to know what the plant is and where to purchase – thanks so very much.
The link is under the images- at the bottom. It’s IKEA!
Thank you!!
I could kiss you! This made me happier than you’ll ever know!! :) :) :) THANK YOU!!!
I finally broke down and bought a couple branches of fake, understated, Japanese kerria because I couldn’t deal with not having at least something flowery and organic looking through January and February, so thank you for alleviating my shame.
BTW, there is a farmer at the Union Square Farmers’ Market in NYC that sells the most beautiful dried flowers I’ve ever seen if folks are looking for low maintenance plants.
Great article. I’ve been searching Overstock and other sites on this very subject to fill a vacation home. Thank you for packaging this all up!
Love this post. I’ve resisted the urge to “go faux” but you’ve convinced me to give it a try. Love the recommendation about adding real dirt to faux topiaries in outdoor planters.
Love this post as I am constantly looking at faux plants and debating about them! Glad I’m not the only one. :)
I’ve kept a fern alive for a couple years and I’m so impressed with myself because I’ve killed so many plants that it’s criminal. Haha. I refuse to buy a real fig leaf tho, price + risk = no go. I found a great Fig leaf at GrandinRoad.com. Great price and looks good but shipping. 🙄 I’m considering World Market since they’ll ship to store for free. Thanks so much for this post! I’m believer in fake greenery. 😁
Great criteria! Would you say there’s a rule against putting faux plants in a powder room with no windows? I wonder if powder room guests would immediately put two and two together.
Couldn’t agree more! I mix real with fake in groupings in our family room and no one knows the difference. I’ve actually watered my tween’s faux succulents more times than I can count. After suffering the loss of numerous arborvitae hedges, we finally resorted to planting fake ficus plants (wicker basket and all) in the ground to block a neighboring back yard. Worked great and lasted several years. Way cheaper than the real deal. Next up? Fake grass for our postage-sized front lawn, which is overcome with all matter of strange, virulent crabgrass. Wish me luck.
I would give you the medal, seeing as how I’ve earned the trophy. I can’t even keep weeds alive. My mother and grandmother were both certified master gardeners, as is my mother in law – I am the girl still buying overpriced herbs on the produce aisle because my mint never got the memo that it’s supposed to grow out of control and my deer resistant rosemary is apparently a favorite snack of some unidentifiable nocturnal creature that eats it to the ground. So thank you from the bottom of my guilt ridden plant loving heart for the empathy and the terrific suggestions for alternatives – my antique terra cotta pots look really pretty in a big stack though, so there’s that.
I don’t think you can top Bayboxwood’s comment! Lol
I like to cut branches while out hiking and put them in a vase. Easy! I have orchids in my living room but it’s easy to remember them, as I’m in there every day.
I did put a faux flower in my guest room. I rarely go in there, so I thought it would add a fake organic touch. Better trash that ASAP.