If you wish to add some pop of colour and touch of nature to your lawn, yard, or outdoor space, getting some plants is always the way to go. But real trees require maintenance and care.
So, what if you don’t have the time or knack of a green thumb to take care of them? That’s where the best artificial trees for the outdoors come in.
These artificial greeneries now appear more realistic than ever and require low maintenance. In simple terms, no more fretting about watering, light exposure, or any other concerns like you would have with real trees. They are also available in varying designs and species, and you are guaranteed to find plenty of options to suit your taste.
Choosing the best artificial tree for outdoors can be strenuous given the sheer number of options to choose from. But this article will make it easier for you to pick the best options.
After thorough research, we narrowed down the options to what we consider to be the seven best artificial trees for outdoors.
But first, here are a few considerations before making the final purchase decision.
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Factors to Consider When Picking the Best Artificial Tree for Outdoors
The best artificial trees will often dupe most visitors, considering the lifelike qualities, material, and proper placement. Here are a few factors to consider when buying your artificial tree.
Size
You’ll come across a wide range of sizes, with some trees such as artificial Ficus or palm plants that are as tall as 5 or 6 feet. Such options are ideal for filling any empty spaces on your lawn.
There are also medium-sized artificial options such as a spider or fern plant, for instance, that range between two and three feet tall to facilitate hanging. Therefore, you first need to identify the outdoor space you expect to fill with the fake tree then get one that fits in best.
Material
Faux trees, in most cases, feature a variety of materials, including paper, foam, plastic, fabrics such as polyester and silk, and even rayon or cotton. However, plastic and silk seem to be the most popular materials. Often, it’s the glue and wire that hold the plant together, whereas a foam filling adds a realistic quality to the leaves.
Silk is yet another popular material for making faux trees. The reason being, it shapes and bends hence offering a realistic alternative. Over time, however, this medium tends to wear out. It starts to discolour mostly due to sunlight damage, and it also begins to show fraying edges.
Today, plastic is also another popular material for making faux trees, thanks to newer technologies. The most recent versions aren’t as shiny as those from a while back. However, today’s plastic offers durable and lifelike replicas of outdoor trees.
Some manufacturers also mould berries, stems, seeds, and leaves from plastic and then paint them with the right colours. Even so, plastic trees tend to be slightly harder to manipulate or bend, unlike silk options.
Realistic Texture and Detail
Look at actual trees outside your home, and you’ll realize very many dissimilarities in their makeup. Each leaf will have a varying vein pattern, colour gradation, or shape. Also, you might notice tiny rips or holes nibbled by insects and other creatures. A tree with no imperfections is a giveaway that it’s human-made rather than naturally grown.
To test if a tree is real, the first thing everyone does is feel the leaves’ texture. If it feels plasticky or hard, then the conclusion is that it’s a replica. You’ll even notice the synthetic feel to the touch of a silk option. There are also newer technologies like soft-touch processing that produce trees with an extra velvety feel.
Asymmetry
Like most natural things, trees aren’t perfect from all angles. The actual ones feature naturally asymmetrical forms with twisted tendrils and stems and different leaf distribution. Consider this before buying because such characteristics display a more realistic look.
Also, avoid options that appear very even all-around with minimal variation in the leaf and stem placements. Take a keen look at the tree and if the appearance seems too perfect, try to reduce the symmetry by twisting the stems, trimming the leaves, etc.
Placement
Placement of your faux tree is vital, especially if you expect it to look more lifelike. A good tip is placing your artificial tree next to a real one, e.g., in sunny corners or wherever else an actual tree could typically thrive. With varying sizes and species, you’ll achieve realistic aesthetics and make any discrepancies almost unnoticeable.
Accessories
Faux greenery can either come in a standard primary pot, vessel, or vase. If your tree features a pot, you might want to re-pot in a better-designed container. Whether it’s a wicker basket or raised ceramic planter, there are several options to suit your décor and taste. And unlike in actual trees, you wouldn’t have to care about the container’s drainage or water retention properties.
Also, the base material of your planter is worth consideration. Rocks, dirt, moss, or soil will deliver a more realistic appearance with your fake tree.
The Seven Best Artificial Trees for Outdoors
If you wish to add some drama and style to your lawn, then this Luxury Artificial Japanese Fruticosa Tree is precisely what you need.
It’s, without a doubt, one of the most realistic and natural artificial trees out there. It boasts a striking look and requires a very keen inspection to notice its artificial nature. Also, the tree’s twisting stems feature real wood, which is very useful in “fooling” the perception.
It features two parts that blend in together to allow your preferred leaf arrangement, including a brown plastic pot which you can immerse in a larger planter to make the tree more natural and attractive.
Features
- Real wood stems
- Over 5 ½ feet tall
- Realistic leaves
- Weighs 18.47 Pounds
Besides the outdoors, this Japanese replica is ideal for office and home use where actual trees hardly thrive.
This dazzling Areca Palm Tree is quite large in size and also features realistic leaves that help it achieve its remarkably natural look. Some of its leaves are larger and darker, while others look smaller and brighter, signifying new growth.
It then features easy-to-shape branches, which create a natural effect that you can manipulate for the tree to fit any space you have. The tree includes a plastic pot that comes with moss decorations. However, for the best natural effect, consider placing it inside a more substantial decorative planter.
Features
- 1.2 meters tall
- UV-Resistant
- Standard plastic pot
- Moss decorations
This artificial tree is perfect to use during the summer. Placing it in your garden adds a natural tropical vibe and feel.
This Homescapes Green Ficus Tree is yet another incredible artificial tree for the outdoors. It includes fabric leaves alongside real wood stems to provide a convincingly natural look.
The overall design of the tree is striking, with its leaves coming in varying colours and sizes. Setting up the tree is also pretty much effortless. It includes a small pot, which means you may need to acquire a larger and more decorative planter.
Apart from its natural looks, this Homescapes Ficus Tree delivers remarkable value for money since it’s available at a reasonable price point.
Features
- Fabric leaves
- Real wood stems
- Variegated; meaning it exhibits different colours
- 1.2m tall
- Reasonable price point
This version best suits a patio or balcony during summer. But you may want to keep it indoors during high winds
The Fopamtri artificial bird of paradise plant is nothing less than incredible. With careful crafting and design, this artificial tree perfectly mimics the actual bird of paradise.
As you would expect, this tree requires zero maintenance, unlike a real one that would typically require daily watering and special attention. You only need to occasionally wipe it using a soft, damp cloth.
Further, this artificial tree is not only adjustable and sturdy, but it also features robust inner metal wires that allow shape manipulation. You can adjust the shape without the fear of breaking the trunk.
The Fopamtri artificial tree features premium and durable polyester material, while Its base features concrete cement. All these materials guarantee durability and that the tree will remain intact even with pets and children around.
It’s six feet tall and includes thirteen impressive, detachable, lifelike trunks while remaining incredibly lightweight and super quick to set up.
Features
- 1.8m tall
- 13 detachable trunks
- Robust inner metal wires
- Durable polyester material
- The base features concrete cement
This decorative artificial tree is also quite versatile. Besides office and home décor, it’s also an excellent outdoor option.
The CROSOFMI artificial tree is another fantastic option for the outdoors that offers top-notch décor all year round. It features a striking design that mimics the actual fiddle leaf fig tree.
Like the other options in this list, it requires low-maintenance. So, no watering or any special care needs like real trees.
More importantly, the CROSOFMI faux tree incorporates robust inner metal wires, which allows shape adjustments without the risk of breaking. At the same time, it also maintains its height and colour even years later without shaping and pruning.
It’s made out of sturdy and premium PU material and is, therefore, not only waterproof but eco-friendly as well. The material also gives it tree a realistic touch. The base features concrete cement that makes it quite stable, even around pets and playful kids.
Setting up the tree is also very straightforward, and so is cleaning. You only need a damp cloth to wipe it clean.
Features
- About 1.1m tall
- Sturdy and premium PU material
- Solid cement base
- Robust inner metal wires
- Eco-friendly, waterproof
It’s an ideal artificial tree for the outdoors but still cuts it as a typical piece of interior décor. Since it’s around 1.1m tall, it may require reshaping immediately after unboxing.
The first thing to notice about the Nearly Natural Ficus tree is its realistic features, most notably a winding vine, an asymmetrical design, and the varying colour leaves.
It features three trunks that hold over 750 leaves to achieve a full and natural look even though it’s made out of silk and plastic. The stems incorporate inner wires that allow them to tweak and twist to your preferred shape.
It weighs around 5kgs and includes a bamboo planter. By adding some stone or soil to the base, the tree gains a more authentic look.
Features
- 1.8m tall
- Varying colour leaves and a winding vine
- Features 750 leaves
- Tree trunks
- Includes silk and plastic
- Inner metal wires
- Weighs 5.4kgs
The tree is quite tall and makes a typical artificial tree for the outdoors, which you can also use as a backdrop behind other smaller artificial or actual plants.
Are you specifically after a whimsical citrus motif? If yes, consider going for a typical lemon tree. This XiaZ artificial lemon tree is the real deal. It’s hard to grow fruit indoors, but with this faux tree, you’ll have constant pretty white flowers and yellow “fruit.”
More importantly, this artificial tree is just over half a meter tall and weighs only half a kilo. Finding the right spot for setup is nothing but quick and effortless. Other than that, it features both fabric and plastic materials.
It includes six lemons with a realistic textured design, each attaching straight to the stem. The small flowers are eighteen in number and complement the tree’s appearance. It also includes a small standard black pot, but you may have to shop for a secondary decorative planter if you wish.
Features
- Fabric and plastic materials
- 2 feet tall
- It weighs only 0.5kgs
- 18 small white flowers
- Six lifelike lemons
With such a design, this artificial tree is suitable for outdoor décor and, like all other options on this list, requires little maintenance or no special care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Artificial Trees for the Outdoors
How do I determine the right planter size for my new artificial tree?
Any decorative planter should be able to hold the faux trees firmly without the worry of tilting over. Large planters make excellent bases for your tree.
On the contrary, a small decorative planter may appear congested and may sell out the realistic look of your artificial tree. A too-small vase or base is less likely to deliver enough stability for your greenery.
We recommend using an oversized decorative planter since it looks more proportionate and convincing that your tree is real.
How do I clean my artificial tree?
First, dust the tree with an ordinary feather duster. Then, clean using a mild detergent diluted with water. For large leaves, wipe each leaf downwards and then use plain water to rinse carefully. The process will reinstate the tree’s initial look.
Are faux flowers made of silk?
Not really. Through new technology, manufacturers use polyurethane foam instead to achieve a more natural feel and look. During the process, polyurethane mixes with polyether to come up with a lightweight foam. The foam is then added to the moulds to form the faux flower components.
Then again, artificial-tree manufacturers inject different colours right into the foam. The colours are then sprayed to the various surfaces and later placed under heat to permanently cure the preferred colours.
Do I need to maintain and take care of my artificial tree?
Yes and No. Artificial trees eliminate the burden of daily maintenance. However, you will occasionally need to wipe away any accumulated dust and clean it. You could use a feather duster and microfiber cloth. At the same time, you can also use a paintbrush to eliminate extra dirt on the tree and the planter.
Conclusion
Any outdoor enthusiast can agree that the sight of green trees and plants is very satisfying. However, maintaining an actual tree is quite a challenge for most people, and artificial trees provide excellent options.
Artificial trees remain usable even after a long time since they only need some minimal care and maintenance, which is enough to help save them year after year. Taking the artificial tree apart is also quite easy when you need to store or transport them to a different location.
