I love house plants. I think they add so much life to a home. I often buy plants with the best intentions, only for them to die months, if not weeks later. Moreover, with two toddlers running around and all of life’s happenings, I no longer have the time or capacity to remember to water and maintain my live plants. Real plants require work. And if I’m completely honest, I never really had much of a green thumb to manage them (please don’t judge me). Plus, my toddlers seem to enjoy tugging, pulling, and ripping them apart while simultaneously removing the soil from the plant pots. So if you are like me – busy or lacking a green thumb – then fake, faux, or artificial plants is your best bet. It’s time to embrace the fake plant trends lifestyle and get a realistic fake plant.
From hanging eucalyptus plants to faux succulents and faux fiddle leaf fig tree, you can find several high-quality fake plants that look very real. And the best part is that they require little to no maintenance. Here’s a look at a few brick-and-mortar stores where you can find the best fake plants that look surprisingly real.
Guide to the Best Fake Plants that Look Real
Before we jump into the places where you can find the best real looking fake plants, let’s talk about the type of fake plants that look surprisingly real. Fake plants have become trendy – if not fashionable. They have certainly come a long way from fake looking to surprisingly looking like the real deal through significant technological advancements. Plants are a great way to add a personal touch to your living space and for dressing up your small apartment on a budget. They are excellent for both indoor use and outdoor use.
It’s important to keep in mind that not all fake and artificial plants are created equal. It would be best if you took note of the texture and material it’s made of, how it looks when you approach it, and how it feels. The best faux option will be plants that naturally or organically have a “fake” like aesthetic. Here are the best faux version of plants to buy with a more realistic look.
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree – Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees tend to be large trees with shiny (almost plastic-like) leaves and very slim trunks. Real Fiddle-leaf fig trees are quite beautiful, but they need very bright light and tropical-like conditions to grow indoors. Hence, why the fake ones are so trendy and popular right now. However, so many beautiful high-quality artificial versions are available on the market now. They do, however, often come with a higher price tag – but I promise you, it is well worth it.
- Oliver Tree – Olive trees are a particular kind of plant that is quite captivating. They will light up any room they are placed in. They just look amazing in any corner or space in the home. Some of these trees come with black olives, while others have green olives. This just adds another layer of decorative elements that will stand out in your home decor.
- Succulents – Succulents tend to look fake even when they are real. In general, real succulents are a good choice for those seeking a low-maintenance indoor plant that can survive and thrive in warm indoor climates. However, they can be quite temperamental and sensitive to overwatering. I learned this the hard way when I ended up with a soggy moldy succulent. So you can’t go wrong with fake succulents since there is no risk of over or under-watering them.
- Snake Plants / Sansiviera – Snake plants are wonderful to look at with their vertical foliage and green stripes. A real snake plant is very easy to keep alive because they often thrive on neglect and low light, but the fake version requires absolutely no maintenance whatsoever. This funky and eclectic plant has spiky, long leaves creating attractive foliage. Quite frankly, they just look cool, and some faux ones are even real to the touch.
- Monstera – Faux monstera plants are my favorite because they tend to look anything but artificial. They are stylish plants that give the home a more tropical vibe while adding a touch of greenery to your space.
Other faux plants to consider: Cactus, Ferns, Aloe, Palm Tree Plant, Pothos Plant
Best Places to Shop for Fake Plants
Target
Target’s selection of artificial trees and plants is exceptional and, quite frankly, very elegant and modern. Lots of fake plants that look real. Even better, they often run promotions on these – given the season – for up to 60% off at a time. Their lush greenery and fake plants collections consist of brands that include Threshold, Project 62, and celebrity designer collaborations with the likes of Studio McGee and Chip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s fixer-upper series. Target is my go-to place for fake plants for my short-term rentals and Airbnb rentals. They have every faux house plant you can think of in an artificial flair starting as low as $5. I love this extra large fake birds of paradise plant and this artificial fig in a basket that looks shockingly real.
Ikea
Not only does Ikea have a smart mix of simple staples and affordable yet trendy items, but it also has a great selection of artificial plants. Their selection starts as low as $.99 with plant garlands to large fig trees. You can also swap out the original plant pot for one of their more thoughtful and modern pots that come in all shapes and colors.
World Market
World Market is a fantastic retail store that specializes in original and handmade items from around the world. They carry unique goods and handicrafts such as furniture and home décor. They have an amazing selection of fake plants that you are going to love. Their fake fiddle leaf tree and faux olive tree are extremely popular and trendy.
Hobby Lobby
Hobby Lobby is an arts and crafts store that features lots of home decor items. This place is absolutely worth a trip. It can be a bit unassuming from the exterior, but once you walk in, you will be shocked by its realistic-looking options. They often run sales on seasonal items, up to 50% off, already reduced items. This store is a mecca of fake plants.
Ross Dress for Less
Ross Dress for Less is one of my favorite stores – it is very affordable and have a wide selection of artificial plants and faux greenery. All different sizes, styles, and colors that look so real in person. Most of their artificial plants come in a cute ceramic pot that is super stylish (a sweet added bonus). Prices start as low as $3.99. You can also find artificial flowers to round out your faux collection in their stores. Check out my Instagram post on the amazing selection of faux flowers I found on my recent shopping trip to Ross Dress for Less. You would be surprised at the gems you can find at this top pick.
Nearly Natural
Nearly Natural is one of the few exclusive artificial floral companies. They pride themselves on offering florals and plants that look so real, they’re nearly natural – hence the company name. They have a strong online presence, and their prices are reasonable (you can get up to 25% off just for joining their email list). They also offer a wide array of fake sansevieria plants and cactus plants that look exceptionally real.
Amazon
This list would not be complete without mentioning Amazon. Amazon has one of the largest selections of fake plants for you to choose from. I love this Palm Silk Tree and Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree from Amazon. Both trees offer a very realistic look for any space. I would jazz these trees up with a nice basket or a large ornate plant pot.
Other online stores to consider:
- At Home
- Wayfair
- Etsy
- Home Goods
- Lowes
- Home Depot
- Walmart
- Big Lots
- West Elm (though a bit pricier)
- Crate & Barrel
If you are on a budget, you can always test out the local dollar store (like Dollar Tree) as they carry many home decor items for budget shoppers. Dollar Tree sometimes carries very small plants, including real-looking fake succulents.
How to maintain fake plants?
As far as maintenance, all you have to do is dust or wipe it down (every now and then) with a piece of cloth. And whallah, you have a new plant once again. That’s it. Very simple and easy to take care of.
So there you have it. A list of the best places you can find your next artificial plants with no interior designers needed. This is the best no-fuss way to bring the look of nature into your home. I think the best way to shop for faux plants is via a brick-and-mortar store because it allows you to see and feel the product and make the best decision. So time to say buh-bye to dead plants, and dead leaves, clean up, and maintenance.
Do you have any particular places where you can find fake plants? Please drop a comment below to let me know what you think. Feel free also to follow me on my social media pages – Pinterest and Instagram or subscribe to my mailing list for other design inspiration and home decor ideas.
Tamara White is the creator and founder of The Thrifty Apartment, a home decor and DIY blog that focuses on affordable and budget-friendly home decorating ideas and projects. Tamara documents her home improvement journey, love of thrifting, tips for space optimization, and creating beautiful spaces.
I love Target plants… I got a few, but I love norturing plants so real ones are my faves:)
Ikea has some good ones! I am the worst plant parent so fake plants are my go to!
Perfect timing. This blog post is just what I needed to see. I’ll be checking out Hoppy Lobby and Etsy.
Oh I’ve been needing this! I love plants but always kill them and have been having a hard time finding good fake plants!
Extremely helpful and perfect timing! Have been planning to re-decorate my living room for a while now and wanted something green, fresh, and joyful without stressing about cleaning or colors fading…Thanks for sharing this list!
I LOVE decorating with fake plants! Ikea is one of my favorite places to shop for home decor. I liked seeing some other store ideas! Thank you for sharing!
This is helpful. I can’t keep plants alive as my house has very little natural light, but sometimes the fake ones look… well… fake. I’ll check some of these out, thanks.
Some great suggestions. It’s a shame we don’t have target in the UK but we do have IKEA!
So glad I came across this article. As much as I love ‘real’ houseplants, my schedule just doesn’t fit into tending for them – maybe I am also a bit lazy! Thank you for the alternatives.