Knowledge Base · Look Closer

Two artificial plants can be the same height, look almost identical in an online photograph and still be completely different products. The difference may be in the leaf count, stem construction, materials, printing, fullness, cleanability or simply how well the plant has been made.

This is one of the most common problems we see when customers compare artificial plants online. A photograph gives you useful information, but it does not tell you everything. If you are comparing price alone, you may not actually be comparing like with like.

Our advice is simple: compare apples with apples. Look beyond the silhouette and ask what you are actually getting.

1. Start with more than height

Height is useful, but it is one of the easiest specifications to overvalue. Two 150 cm plants can have completely different visual presence. One may be full and broad; another may be narrow with far fewer stems and leaves.

Also remember that an artificial plant is packed tightly for transport. Our listed height is measured from the bottom of the weighted black plastic pot to the tallest foliage point while the plant is in its packaged form. Width is measured after the foliage has been opened and shaped. That means the dimensions describe two different practical states of the plant.

When comparing products online, check the height, opened width, number of stems or branches where supplied, planter opening and the amount of foliage. A 40 cm plant is genuinely small and will behave very differently in a large planter from a 90 cm or 120 cm plant.

2. Look closely at colour and printing

Colour is often one of the quickest clues to quality. Natural foliage is rarely one flat green. Depending on the species, there may be tonal variation, lighter new growth, darker mature leaves, markings, veins and changes across the leaf surface.

Online photographs can hide some of this, especially if the image has been heavily lit or edited. Zoom in where possible. Look for natural colour variation, correctly positioned veins and printing that aligns with the structure of the leaf.

Poorer products may show overly bright colour, inconsistent printing, veins that do not line up with the moulded rib, or a finish that is too shiny for the species being reproduced.

3. Check how the leaves are attached

Construction is difficult to judge from a single ecommerce image, but it matters enormously. Look at where leaves meet stems, how branches are connected and whether there are obvious weak points.

On some plants, individual leaf components are glued or heat-set onto a supporting structure. If those joins are poorly made, leaves can loosen during shaping, cleaning or normal handling. Frayed fabric edges, rough attachment points and poorly finished stem joints are all worth noticing.

In some products, a leaf or frond formed as a complete supported piece will withstand styling and cleaning better than many small individually attached components. The exact construction varies from plant to plant, so the point is not to prescribe one manufacturing method; it is to look at whether the finished structure is secure and appropriate for how the plant will be used.

It is also worth assessing construction at a realistic viewing distance. If you turn a leaf over and inspect its attachment point from a few centimetres away, you will see how it has been manufactured — it is an artificial product. What matters is whether that construction is secure, appropriately concealed in normal use and capable of withstanding sensible styling, cleaning and handling.

4. Ask how much foliage you are actually buying

Leaf count and stem count are not the only measures of quality, but they are useful when comparing two similar products. A lower-priced plant may simply contain less material.

This is where a photograph can be deceptive. Camera angle, styling and how far the branches have been opened can make a plant look fuller than it is. If two plants appear similar but the price difference is substantial, look for specifications that explain the difference: number of stems, branch count, leaf density, diameter and finished spread.

5. Compare the artificial plant with the real plant

One of the best ways to judge an artificial plant is to understand what the living plant actually looks like. The aim is not to pretend that artificial foliage is living. It is to assess whether the artificial version captures the structure and character of the botanical species convincingly enough for the application.

I was reminded of this recently while visiting a nursery, where I came across the living version of a plant very similar to our Spotted Spider Bush. I was struck by how closely the artificial foliage captured the colour variation, markings, leaf shape and overall character of the living plant.

That does not make the artificial version “real”. It shows that the manufacturer has paid attention to the characteristics that make that plant recognisable.

Look at the direction of the leaves, the way they emerge from the stem, the proportion between leaf and branch, and the general growth habit. If an artificial plant has leaves sitting at unnatural angles or repeating in a mechanical pattern, it may look less convincing even if the individual leaves are beautifully made.

Living plant

Artificial interpretation

Look beyond “does it look real?” Compare the leaf shape, markings, colour variation and overall character of the living plant with the artificial interpretation.

6. Surface finish matters because you have to live with it

A plant can look impressive in a photograph and still be impractical in the long term. We often assess cleanability as part of quality selection because dust is one of the realities of artificial planting.

We generally favour coated leaves where appropriate. A suitable coating can help prevent dust settling deeply into fabric or textured material and can make the foliage easier to wipe clean. It may also produce a subtle matte sheen that catches light naturally, particularly in darker interiors.

Sometimes the most visually realistic sample is not the one we select because the finish is too difficult to clean. A slightly less delicate surface can be the better product if it will maintain its appearance more successfully over time.

7. Do not judge the plant straight out of the box

Artificial plants are packed tightly to protect them during transport. They need to be opened, shaped and styled. A plant that looks narrow or compressed when first unpacked may look completely different once the branches and foliage have been positioned properly.

Think of it a little like freshly washed hair compared with a good blow-dry and styling. It is the same hair, but the finished result depends on what happens after it is washed.

The same applies to artificial plants. The product photograph should show you the intended finished form, not necessarily the exact shape you will see in the first thirty seconds after opening the box.

8. A higher price is not automatically the right choice

Quality and price are generally connected because materials, leaf count, moulding, printing and construction all have a cost. But that does not mean every project requires the most expensive plant.

A plant viewed at eye level in a reception area, restaurant or home deserves closer scrutiny. A plant being installed several metres above the floor in a ceiling feature may not need the same level of close-up detail. A more economical product can also be entirely appropriate for a temporary installation.

The important question is not simply, “Which is the best plant?” It is, “Which is the right plant for this application?”

If you want the broader quality framework behind these comparisons, read What Makes a Good Artificial Plant? A Practical Guide to Quality.

A quick online comparison checklist

• Height and width: Are you comparing the finished visual size, not only the number in the title?
• Foliage quantity: Are stem, branch or leaf counts available?
• Colour: Is there believable tonal variation?
• Printing: Do veins and markings align naturally with the leaf structure?
• Construction: Can you see how leaves and branches are attached?
• Finish: Will the material be practical to clean?
• Shape: Can the plant be opened and styled to suit your space?
• Application: How close will people be to it, and how much detail is actually required?

When you cannot tell from the website, ask

There is nothing wrong with asking for more information before ordering. In fact, it is often the fastest way to avoid buying the wrong plant for the wrong pot or space.

If you are unsure, send us the dimensions of the planter, a photograph of the area, the approximate height you want and anything you already know you like. We can help you compare the options properly rather than guessing from photographs alone.

The goal is not to sell you the most expensive plant. It is to help you choose the plant that makes sense for the space.

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