Tips for Styling Convincing Faux Outdoor Plants
Living in a hot and dry climate here in Salt Lake City, I had to rethink some of our outdoor planters and landscaping vignettes. A couple summers ago, our city put water restrictions in place… sadly, that meant letting some of our plants and garden go. During particularly dry seasons, I wanted to be prepared, but I still wanted everything to look polished and put together. After water regulations, I decided to mix in some faux outdoor plants. If you’re also trying to save water or just want something that looks good without the maintenance or constant upkeep, this post is for you. I’m sharing the faux plants I ended up loving, plus my best tricks for making them look realistic. Click through to see how I styled them, and how they’ve held up…
When water rules were announced a couple years ago, I was most sad to see our front porch planters shrivel and dry out. Every year I plant hydrangeas with cascading ivy or bacopa. They’re beautiful but need frequent watering, and we don’t even have a hose that reaches the porch. We used to haul gallons of water through the house to keep them alive, which was inconvenient. I wasn’t ready to leave the porch bare for the season, so I started researching faux outdoor plants. After a few rounds of trial and error, I found a setup that looks fresh and realistic without needing a single drop of water. That’s what led me to share this post, because we’ve been using them for three summer seasons now.
My Favorite Faux Plants This Season
The hydrangea topiaries I landed on for our front porch are some of my favorite finds so far. They’ve held up beautifully (even with the sun exposure), and I’m consistently getting compliments from neighbors who thought they were real. I paid full price when I ordered mine, but I just noticed they’re on sale right now. I also tested a bunch of other options along the way, some looked great online but didn’t pass the in-person test. I hope sharing what worked for me will save you a little time if you’re also looking to make the switch.
My Top Picks
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I’m sharing some of my top picks above. These can be mixed and matched with any planter… I’m a fan of nesting them inside vessels I already own.
Why Faux Works on the Porch
Our front porch is a tricky spot. No hose access and full afternoon sun means live plants are high maintenance. Faux plants gave me the freedom to style the front door vignette without having to worry about water- and it means our curb appeal looks good all summer long. I love having something flanking the front door, it adds structure and a seasonal touch that helps make the entry feel intentional and pulled together. If you’re considering going faux… the front porch is an ideal spot.
Convincing Faux Topiaries
In the backyard, on the patio and flanking the storage shed, I filled a few of our terracotta planters with boxwood, rosemary, and thyme topiaries. When shopping for faux plants that will withstand the test of time, make sure they are UV resistant! I’m partial to topiaries because they have a more manicured aesthetic, that naturally seems a little too good to be true.. and I think that gives the faux options a more convincing look. Can you believe both of the topiaries pictured below are faux? Pretty good, right?
Designer Perspective on Outdoor Faux Plants
I know faux plants get a bad rep, and as an interior designer… it was a tough sell for me. There are quite a few terrible options on the market… most are underwhelming, look fake, and have a plastic feel. I also think indoor faux plants and outdoor faux plants are an entirely different ballgame. After lots of trial, error, and showroom visits- I did find some really great options: all of which are durable, realistic, and actually well-reviewed. They just took some digging to find. I’ve found in certain situations, the good ones are definitely worth making the switch… no watering, no upkeep, and they always look their best no matter what the weather is doing. Sometimes they’re the better option.
Styling Faux Plants the Right Way
One quick note about faux outdoor plants, and maybe this goes without saying– but I think they look best styled in a planter or container. I wouldn’t plant them directly in the ground. I treat them like seasonal decor, kind of like how I use annuals or fresh greenery. They’re a great way to add color and structure for the season, without the commitment of permanent landscaping.
My 5 Best Tips for Going Faux Outdoors
- Price and quality matter. You get what you pay for. I found the budget-friendly options looked obviously fake. Higher-quality faux plants tend to use better materials and are more convincing up close. I also check reviews to make sure they’ll hold up outdoors and are UV resistant to prevent fading.
- Plant faux as you would a regular, live plant. Use heavy, beautiful planters and add real soil, mulch, moss, or rock to complete the look. Above all, fluffing is a must. A faux plant straight out of the box never looks good. It takes a little effort to bend the branches, shape the leaves, and adjust the blooms in a way that feels organic and realistic, rather than flattened or overly perfect. Think about how real plants naturally grow toward the sun, and try to mimic that when you’re styling.
- Mix faux with low-maintenance real plants. To make things look even more believable, I like to mix in live water-wise plants. This year I used vinca and ivy, which are both easy to care for and add just enough real greenery to balance the arrangement.
- Style with the whole space in mind. Don’t let a faux plant stand alone. Layer them into a styled vignette with doormats, planters, furniture, exterior lighting, or seasonal decor. It makes everything feel more intentional, curated, and helps draw the eye around the full vignette.
- Take care of your investment. If you’re spending a pretty penny on faux plants, the benefit is that you can reuse them year after year. That means taking care of them. Clean them at the end of each season (we power wash ours), use a leaf blower, or simply scrub the leaves with soap and water. Store them properly, and when they’re on display, try to avoid placing them in harsh direct sun. A covered porch or a spot with partial shade is usually a good option.
FAQ
Fluffing is key. I always bend and shape the branches or leaves to make them look a little more organic, like they’re reaching for sunlight. I also add real soil, moss, or small rocks to the top of the planter to disguise the base. I always choose a quality planter- that makes a huge difference.
I’ve had the most success using them in covered or partially shaded areas, like our front porch or near the shed. They last longer when they’re not baking in direct sun all day. I think of them as a seasonal accessory and usually style them in a vignette with rugs, planters, and outdoor decor.
If they’re good quality and protected from the elements- yes. I store mine in the shed at the end of each season. I clean them with a little soap and water, or hit them with the leaf blower, then tuck them away somewhere dry so they’re ready to go the following year. I have faux options for our front porch for the spring and summer season (my hydrangeas), and for the winter season (cedar topiaries), so they’re always rotating.
Related
Looking for more garden and outdoor styling tips? I’ve shared plenty of gardening projects, planter tips, and porch styling ideas, I’ll link a few helpful ones below to get you started!
- My Go-To Spring Gardening Essentials from Lowe’s
- Tips for Growing and Caring for Boxwoods
- Gardening with the Phases of the Moon: Lunar Planting Guide
- How to Install Window Flower Boxes
- How to Create Beautiful Porch Planters for Fall
- Timeless Terracotta
- Classic Planters for Every Aesthetic and Budget
- Side Yard Garden DIY
Now that we’re in the dead heat of summer, our live plants are beginning to look crispy, and there is talk of water restrictions. I’m certainly appreciating my faux plants! Am I swearing off live plants on the porch or patio forever? Definitely not. I’ll always prefer the real thing when I can swing it, but mixing in a few faux options has worked out really well for us. They’re low-maintenance, enhance our curb appeal, and save water. If you’re short on time, are dealing with water limits, are planning an extended vacation, or just don’t want the constant upkeep- these are all solid options. Our front porch hydrangeas have been the easiest planters I’ve ever “planted,” and we get so many compliments on them! Would you ever try going faux? I know it’s a controversial design subject. Let me know in the comments!