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Expert Picks for January 2026

Best Artificial Plants

Greenery without the guilt of dead plants. We compared faux plants from fiddle leaf figs to succulents—finding what fools houseguests and what screams fake from across the room.

Last updated: January 28, 2026

Best Overall Comparison All Products User Reviews Buying Guide FAQ

Best Overall Our top recommendation

Best Overall

Nearly Natural

Artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (5ft)

4.5 (18,765 reviews)

The fiddle leaf fig that won't die on you. Nearly Natural makes the most convincing faux plants at reasonable prices. Zero water, zero light requirements, zero guilt when you forget about it.

Height

5 feet

Material

Silk/polyester leaves

Pot

Plastic included

Style

Fiddle leaf fig

Pros

✓ Most realistic on budget
✓ Fiddle leaf popularity
✓ Pre-potted

Cons

✗ Arrives compressed
✗ Pot is basic
✗ Needs fluffing

$89

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Product	Rating	Price	Action
Artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (5ft) Best Nearly Natural	4.5	$89	View
Artificial Succulents in Pots (Set of 6) Value Ashland	4.4	$22	View
Faux Pampas Grass (6 Stems) Yvonne	4.3	$35	View
Artificial Ivy Garland (12 Pack) CEWOR	4.4	$14	View
Artificial Olive Tree (6ft) Roqueen	4.4	$109	View

* Prices may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

All Recommended Products

Best Overall

Nearly Natural

Artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (5ft)

4.5 (18,765 reviews)

The fiddle leaf fig that won't die on you. Nearly Natural makes the most convincing faux plants at reasonable prices. Zero water, zero light requirements, zero guilt when you forget about it.

Height

5 feet

Material

Silk/polyester leaves

Pot

Plastic included

Style

Fiddle leaf fig

Pros

✓ Most realistic on budget
✓ Fiddle leaf popularity
✓ Pre-potted

Cons

✗ Arrives compressed
✗ Pot is basic
✗ Needs fluffing

$89

View on Amazon

Best Value

Ashland

Artificial Succulents in Pots (Set of 6)

4.4 (34,567 reviews)

Succulents you can't kill because they're already not alive. Scatter on shelves, bathroom windowsills, or desks. No succulent guilt when you inevitably underwater (or overwater) the real thing.

Quantity

6 plants

Size

2-3 inches

Material

PVC/plastic

Pots

Included

Pros

✓ Variety of types
✓ Cute pots included
✓ Very realistic

Cons

✗ Small sizes
✗ Pots tip easily
✗ Some look more fake than others

$22

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Premium Pick

Yvonne

Faux Pampas Grass (6 Stems)

4.3 (12,345 reviews)

Real pampas grass sheds everywhere and triggers allergies. Faux pampas sits in a vase looking Instagram-perfect forever. The boho decor essential without the maintenance nightmare.

Quantity

6 stems

Height

43 inches

Material

Synthetic fiber

Style

Pampas grass

Pros

✓ No shedding (unlike real)
✓ Reusable yearly
✓ Boho essential

Cons

✗ Specific trendy aesthetic
✗ Can look cheap up close
✗ Limited versatility

$35

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Budget Pick

CEWOR

Artificial Ivy Garland (12 Pack)

4.4 (87,654 reviews)

Event planners' secret weapon. 84 feet of ivy for $14—drape over shelves, wrap around bedposts, hang as a backdrop. Not realistic up close but magical at a distance.

Quantity

12 strands

Length

7 feet each

Material

Plastic/fabric

Style

Ivy vine

Pros

✓ 84 feet total
✓ Easy to style
✓ Indoor/outdoor

Cons

✗ Looks fake up close
✗ Can tangle
✗ Plastic smell initially

$14

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Roqueen

Artificial Olive Tree (6ft)

4.4 (8,765 reviews)

The olive tree is the new fiddle leaf fig—that sophisticated Mediterranean vibe. Real wood trunk makes this convincing. In a basket pot by your reading chair, it's chef's kiss.

Height

6 feet

Material

Silk leaves, natural wood trunk

Pot

Plastic included

Style

Olive tree

Pros

✓ Mediterranean elegance
✓ Natural trunk
✓ Durable construction

Cons

✗ Leaves need adjusting
✗ Premium price
✗ Heavy

$109

View on Amazon

Buying Guide: How to Choose Artificial Plants

How to Choose Artificial Plants

Faux plants have evolved. Modern artificial plants can fool houseguests and require zero commitment to keeping things alive. But bad fakes look cheap and gather dust like museums. Here's how to choose convincingly.

Realism Indicators

What makes fakes obvious:
Uniform color (real plants have variation)
- Shiny/plastic leaves
- Symmetrical shape (too perfect)
- Visible plastic stems
- Wrong pot scale

What makes fakes convincing:
- Color variation within leaves
- Matte finish
- Natural imperfections
- Real or realistic wood stems
- Wire stems you can bend

### Best Uses for Faux Plants

High shelves: No one's looking closely; you're not watering up there anyway
Low light areas: Where real plants would die
Offices with no windows: Sad real plants are sadder than good fakes
Bathrooms: Humidity extremes are plant killers
Rental apartments: No investment in plants you'll move

### Styling Tips

- Repot into nice containers: Faux plants often come in cheap plastic
- Mix with real: A faux tree + real pothos = convincing collection
- Add fake soil: Moss or decorative rocks hide obviously fake bases
- Dust regularly: Dusty fakes scream "fake"
- Bend branches: Real plants aren't perfectly symmetrical

### Price vs. Quality

Cheap fakes ($10-20): Fine from distance, obvious up close. Events, high shelves.
Mid-range ($40-80): Convincing for most uses. Good for eye-level placement.
Premium ($100+): Guests will touch them to check. Living room statement pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions About Artificial Plants

How do I clean artificial plants?

Dust regularly with microfiber cloth or compressed air. For deeper cleaning, wipe leaves with damp cloth (mild soap OK). Silk plants can be sprayed with silk plant cleaner. Some polyester plants can be rinsed in shower and air dried.

Are artificial plants tacky?

Bad ones, yes. Good ones are indistinguishable from real. The key is quality, proper styling (repot them!), and placement. Interior designers use high-quality fakes regularly. No shame in plants that don't die.

Can I put artificial plants outside?

Look for "UV resistant" or "outdoor" labels. Regular faux plants fade quickly in sun and deteriorate in weather. Outdoor-rated fakes exist but are pricier. Covered patios are safer than direct sun.

How do I make artificial plants look more real?

Repot in ceramic or basket containers. Add real moss on top of soil. Bend branches for natural asymmetry. Place in realistic locations (not direct sun for shade plants). Mix with one or two easy real plants.

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