The 12 Best Fake Plants That Don't Require A Green Thumb

Forbes

a day ago

Real plants aren't always practical, whether due to low light, allergies or a lifestyle that doesn't allow for regular care. Still, indoor greenery brings a space to life, adding warmth and a welcoming feel. The best faux plants offer the best of both worlds: They look convincingly real, yet are made from durable materials that hold up over time. Our top pick, the Nearly Natural's Boston Fern plant, is crafted with high-quality materials and is so lifelike, your guests may never guess it isn't the real thing.
The best fake plants look realistic and add a lively design element to your space.
Interior designer Michele Iapicco frequently incorporates faux plants into her clients' homes, especially in spaces with limited sunlight, for frequent travelers or for those with sensitivities to allergens. 'Fake plants are a vibrant and low-maintenance décor accessory that adds a sophisticated and lively touch,' she says. With her guidance and hours of additional research, we've curated a list of the best faux plants you can buy right now.
Nearly Natural
Dimensions: 28 x 23 inches | Plant type: Boston fern | Container: Wood wicker basket
This faux plant stands out for its silk leaves, a material designer Michele Iapicco recommends for mimicking the texture and subtle shine of real greenery. The arrangement feels full of life, with a variety of branches and fronds that extend outward in all directions. Each branch is bendable, so you can adjust the shape to suit your space. The included wood wicker basket adds a cozy, natural touch that works well in both home and office settings.
AllModern
Dimensions: 21 x 72 inches | Plant type: Olive tree | Container: Ceramic white pot
Iapicco recommends this faux olive tree for its realistic, elegant look that can elevate almost any space—indoors or out. It features an abundance of lifelike leaves and olives, and comes in a sleek white planter that's ready to display wherever you'd like. It's also available in four different heights—including a 7-foot option—so you can pick the size that works best for your space, even if you have taller ceilings.
West Elm
Dimensions: 9 x 15 inches | Plant type: Snake plant | Container: Optional cement pot
Whether you're looking to liven up your desk or add a touch of greenery to your coffee table, a tabletop faux plant is an easy, maintenance-free design detail. This faux snake plant stands out for its realistic coloring and tidy 15-inch height—perfect for smaller surfaces. You can also opt to purchase it with a sleek white planter, which adds a clean, modern look without needing to shop for a separate container.
Amazon
Dimensions: 34 x 15 inches | Plant type: Pothos | Container: Plastic basket
Ideal as a tablescape centerpiece or sideboard topper, this faux pothos plant comes in a wide, sturdy ledge basket that adds a charming, natural touch. The leaves feature realistic veining and color patterns that many reviewers say look just like the real thing, and since all the branches are bendable, you can easily adjust their shape to suit your surface and space.
Pottery Barn
Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.75 inches | Plant type: String of hearts | Container: Plastic pot
With a plethora of realistically shaped and colored leaves, this faux string of hearts plant is a great choice for draping over kitchen cabinets, bookcases or open shelving. It includes approximately 100 leaves, each hand-assembled onto a flexible wire center with a lifelike variegated pattern that gives the plant its signature cascading look. While it comes in a simple black plastic pot, placing it in a more decorative planter can instantly elevate the overall presentation.
West Elm
Dimensions: 12.6 x 12.6 inches or 7.5 x 18.5 inches | Plant type: Donkey's tail succulent | Container: Plastic pot
Donkey's tail is a type of succulent that can take years to grow long enough to drape gracefully over shelves and countertops. This faux version offers a smart shortcut, with realistic plastic leaves that cascade beautifully over the edges of a shelf or table. It's available in two size options, and it comes in a simple plastic pot, though you can always place it in a decorative planter for a more polished look.
CB2
Dimensions: 24 x 60 inches | Plant type: Money tree | Container: Plastic pot
Money trees—or, more scientifically, Pachira aquatica—are tropical plants associated with attracting good luck and prosperity into the home. But they thrive in warm, humid climates, which means not every household can replicate those conditions. Enter this faux money tree, featuring lifelike plastic leaves and branches set inside an included iron planter. At five feet tall, it's entirely upkeep-free and ready to bring life (and, hopefully, good fortune) into any corner of the home. Its elegant silhouette make it especially striking in living rooms, home offices or entryways.
Williams Sonoma
Dimensions: 30 x 60 inches | Plant type: Olive tree | Container: Plastic pot
This realistic faux olive tree, equipped with 1,300 lifelike leaves and olives, brings a subtle Mediterranean feel to your home, whether you place it indoors or out. The leaves are crafted from silk, a material known for its ability to mimic the soft texture and natural sheen of real foliage, lending the tree a convincing and elevated look. The trunk has a rustic, weathered appearance that adds character and charm, making it a particularly good fit for outdoor patios, sunrooms or cozy corners that need a little greenery.
CB2
Dimensions: 14 x 14 inches | Plant type: Succulent plant | Container: Stoneware pot
Succulents have a unique look, and this faux version emulates the color, shape and texture very closely. The leaves boast realistic details and imperfections, and the included pot even has lifelike soil inside. The stoneware pot features a modern design that makes this fake plant ready to display on an office desk, floating shelf or bedside table—no sunlight required.
The Sill
Dimensions: 9 x 25 inches | Plant type: Cactus plant | Container: Stoneware pot
Bring the warm, earthy feeling of the desert into your home with this lifelike faux cactus. With realistic—yet non-sharp—spines and a sculptural silhouette, it adds visual interest without any of the upkeep. Standing just over 2 feet tall, it's the perfect size for tucking into an empty corner, placing on a plant stand, or styling on a shelf for added height and texture.
The Home Depot
Dimensions: 38 x 66 inches | Plant type: Palm tree | Container: Plastic pot
Bring a tropical vibe to your indoor (or outdoor) space with this fake palm tree. Available at 5.5 or 7 feet in height, this faux tree is made with UV-resistant materials that suit it to poolside patios just as well as living room corners. The palm fronds are bendable, which means you can adjust the shape to best suit your space. And the two trunks feature realistic imperfections that make this tree look like the real thing.
Artiplanto
Dimensions: 40 x 62 inches (5.2 ft) | Plant type: Kwai palm tree | Container: Plastic pot
If you're looking to make a bold statement, this faux Kwai palm tree brings a dramatic, tropical vibe to any space. Its oversized, floppy leaves, crafted from a mix of plastic and silk, add movement and texture, and can be reshaped to take up more or less visual space depending on your layout. Available in three heights (5.2 feet, 6.5 feet, and 8 feet), it works just as well in a compact office corner as it does as a showstopping focal point in a larger living room. The tree arrives in a plain plastic pot, but swapping it out for a more decorative planter can instantly elevate its overall impact and help it better match your space.
The home team at Forbes Vetted is committed to providing the most reliable and expert-backed recommendations for interior design, from washable rugs to bedside lamps.
We considered multiple factors when curating a list of the best fake plants, including expert recommendations, staff picks and customer reviews.
Fake plants may be a major shortcut compared to real plants, which require regular care and unique environments, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do your research before purchasing one. There's a lot to consider before investing in a fake plant, from size and shape to the materials it's made from.
When shopping for a fake plant, 'keep in mind the size of the plant as it relates to the entire room,' advises Iapicco. She references everything from ceiling height to plant proportions to the placement in the room. Of course, large spaces with tall ceilings will benefit from larger plants, and vice versa.
'I use this rule of thumb when selecting fake plants for my interior design clients,' Iapicco says. 'For small rooms, choose a fake plant that is 1-2 feet tall; for medium-sized rooms, choose one 2-4 feet tall; for larger rooms, choose one around 4-6 feet tall.'
Plastic plants that are cheap and accessible often look much less realistic than pricier options. The key to finding a realistic-looking fake plant is paying attention to the materials.
'Choose fake leaves crafted of silk,' Iapicco says. 'The material is similar to the consistency and shine of real plants.' She also recommends latex plants, but says to keep in mind that latex is a relatively common allergen and could affect some of your guests.
Finally, you should consider how you want your fake plant to impact the design of your space. 'A fake plant is supposed to be a pretty design element, but not a huge focal point for any room,' Iapicco says. 'Therefore, make sure you choose one that fits in, but doesn't overpower the room.'
She also emphasizes the importance of the planter or pot that the fake plant comes in. Many options come in a plain plastic pot, which means you can (and should) choose and buy a planter separately. 'Make sure the style, color and texture of the planter or pot works well with the overall design aesthetic of the room.'
Where Is The Best Place To Buy Realistic Fake Plants?
Iapicco recommends Emilio Robba for its selection of luxury fake plants. 'You wouldn't even know they are fake,' she says. 'They look gorgeous in any home.' She also recommends AllModern, which offers a wide selection of varying styles and price points.
Other popular retailers that offer realistic fake plants include The Sill, Home Depot, Nearly Natural and Artiplanto.
Are Fake Plants Worth It?
Fake plants can be game changers for a variety of different design and lifestyle needs. They're particularly useful in situations where real plants can't be used, like in areas where there isn't adequate sunlight for a real plant to thrive, or in households that deal with allergies or pets that can't be around real plants.
'Also, fake plants are ideal for people who travel a lot or have a second home, where they don't have the availability or time to properly care for a plant,' Iapicco adds.
What Are Some Of the Most Popular Types Of Fake Plants?
You can find almost every plant variety in a faux version, thanks to their growing popularity from a range of retailers. Popular fake plant varieties include fake fiddle leaf trees, hanging pothos plants, tall monstera plants and artificial palm trees.