Friends often come to me with their houseplant problems—issues like falling leaves, sad wilting, and no new growth. They’re usually surprised to hear my diagnosis: that it shouldn’t be a houseplant at all. Instead, I encourage friends with a craving for greens in their living spaces to take faux houseplants for a test drive.
Think about the conditions in which plants thrive outdoors—there’s humidity in the air, natural sunlight, and pollinators buzzing around. While some plants perform better than others in indoor settings, it’s not uncommon for most to ultimately die due to dry air quality, inadequate lighting, and poor soil. For these reasons, I’m all about the fake houseplant trend.
Most of our favorite shops now sell incredible artificial indoor plants, making it easy to add a realistic botanical splash to your home. Best of all: the only maintenance these beauties require is a dusting every now and again. Gone are the days of tacky, waxy-looking fake houseplants—it’s practically impossible to recognize fake indoor plants these days. From budding bulbs to full-on fiddle leaf figs, there’s an artificial house plant version of nearly every plant out there.
So without further ado, here are my 13 favorite faux houseplants.
Hanging artificial indoor plants are ideal because they’re rarely in close contact with curious eyes. Not that you need to worry about anyone getting a close look at this beauty! The vibrant green hues are extremely lifelike and add the perfect pop of color.
Bring the outdoors in with this incredibly realistic olive tree—it’ll look gorgeous in any room in your home. That said, there’s something so romantic about the delicate, fluttering leaves that it just might lend itself to being a beautiful bedroom plant. The sleek white ceramic pot has a polished, timeless aesthetic that won’t pull focus from this lovely tree.
Everyone loves the Swiss cheese-look of the popular monstera plant, but they’re not the easiest to tend to if I’m being honest. This faux houseplant version gives you all the natural, lush beauty of a highly coveted plant without any of the stress. No one will ever be the wiser—even the soil looks realistic!
If you’ve had a hankering for some spring blooms then look no further than this sweet faux magnolia branch. It features magnolia blooms on a wired twig stem and reaches up to 42 inches in height. Tuck it in a larger arrangement or place it in a statement vase on your mantelpiece. Either way, it’s a showstopper.
Tuck this beautiful little artificial houseplant on a bookcase or windowsill to jazz up a small empty space. You can get it with or without a planter, but I happen to think that the little ceramic planter is a sweet added element of color.
The weathered pot for this fake indoor plant is just as special as the gorgeous plant itself. It’s shockingly lifelike and an unexpectedly joy-inducing choice.
Add this fiddle leaf to the list of notoriously tricky indoor plants to keep alive—making it the perfect option for a faux houseplant. Pick from two glorious sizes depending on how much space you have and watch how it lights up the space. It’s a beautiful, eye-catching tree.
Succulents make great faux houseplants because the funky texture lends itself to easily being realistically reproduced. Spice up a coffee table, kitchen counter, or end table with this regal, asymmetrical option. It’s handmade by artisans (so each one is unique) and lives in a round cement pot with a textured white finish.
Despite being known for their beautiful living plants, The Sill’s line of fake indoor plants is absolutely fabulous. This rex begonia adds a fresh pop of color thanks to the vibrant purple veining and iridescent sheen. You can get it with The Sill’s lovely ceramic pot for a super-realistic look or opt-out depending on your preference.
Even though it’s made of polyester, plastic, and wire, you’d never know this artificial branch wasn’t straight from the garden. Who doesn’t want an eternal harbinger of spring hanging out in their home? It’s a lovely addition to any living space, whether it’s popped into a fuller arrangement or left to its own devices in a decorative statement vase.
There’s a reason rubber trees are a longtime classic staple—moody, gorgeous, and timeless. The addition of a fake version to your living room, dining area, or workspace will brighten up your days. It’s not easy to make a shiny-leaf plant look realistic, but West Elm pulled it off with this one.
Transform your space with this cascading trail of vines. The variegation adds texture and color, heightening the realism of this gorgeous faux houseplant. Let the vines hang off a shelf or artfully sprawl them across a bookcase or shelf. It’s practically whimsical!
Can’t make it to the tropics? Bring them to your living room with this dried palm leaf arrangement. Sneak it into a larger arrangement or have it on full display in an empty vase. You’ll think you’re in Costa Rica.
This post was originally published on March 18, 2019, and has since been updated.
