Bringing greenery into your commercial space is one of the best ways to add polish, life and personality to your interior design. Plants are living things, which makes designing with them a bit tricky—especially when you’re working indoors. When exploring options, many people are confused about how to choose between real and replica plants, and want to know which is “better”.
Today, we want to bust the myth that you have to choose between real plants or artificial ones, and that there’s a single answer to what is best. Great plant design is about using exactly what works in a particular space, and for commercial clients that can mean a mix of both real and replica plants, giving you the benefits of each.
Pros and Cons of Real and Replica Plants for Offices, Hospitals, Retail and Other Commercial Buildings
When it comes to plants and designs, first remember that not all “pros” and “cons” are positive or negative for everyone. This is about what will enhance the feel and function of your business. That said, here are some common considerations we go over with our clients who are thinking about using real and artificial plants in their designs.
For real plants, you get the maximum benefits of biophilia. Studies across countries have shown improved mood and lower stress, guests feeling more welcome and relaxed, increased wellbeing, a better and more creative working environment. They also add intangible benefits from color, texture, vibrancy and beauty.
They require ongoing care and an appropriate setup, since each plant has its own needs—sunlight, humidity, containers, drainage, and overall resilience. So not every look is available in every commercial space, where there is often high traffic and highly controlled temperatures. In addition, some people may be sensitive to pollen or fragrances from certain blooms, and it’s also worth being mindful of plant varieties that aren’t pet‑friendly if your office welcomes dogs.
Replica plants offer the same color, texture and beauty as real plants. While some people worry that all artificial plants will be obviously plastic and neon green, Plantscape’s high-quality replicas are gorgeous pieces of art in their own right.
They can be placed without the same concerns for conditions like light and temperature, and some can be sturdier than real plants to withstand high-traffic areas. They’re also hypoallergenic and have low maintenance needs. They stay static, without the growth, change, or seasonal variation that real plants bring. This may mean they don’t give the same feeling of connection as real plants, and they may not confer all of the benefits of biophilia and real plants, like air quality improvements.
Both Real and Artificial Plants bring Actual Benefits to Your Space
Research on artificial plants in workplaces and commercial settings is more limited, but a Korean study showed that, while real plants produced the strongest effects, artificial plants also significantly improved participants’ feelings of stress and relaxation.
Replica plants come in a wide range of materials—not just plastic—and many are crafted from high‑quality components that look remarkably realistic. You can still capture some of the biophilic appeal of natural textures, especially when working with preserved elements. We often use materials such as preserved trees, wood, and moss, along with silks and other natural fibers, when creating our replica plant designs. No matter what you choose, both real and replica plants are part of a finished design and décor scheme, and both bring interest and function to your interior space.
Creating a Cohesive Design with Both Real and Artificial Plants
People managing commercial spaces are often drawn to real plants for some reasons, and artificial plants for others. A thoughtful plant design can incorporate both where it makes the most sense. For example, you may want to have beautiful blooming plants at a sunny reception desk to impress clients and welcome guests. But in an internal meeting room, having faux greenery that requires no light to look good may be a necessity.
You might want large potted arrangements on display tables in a retail space for visual impact, and in those cases artificial plants can be a smart choice since there’s no risk of water damaging nearby merchandise. In contrast, in a seating area where guests linger, a real potted tree can add a sense of calm and create a welcoming atmosphere. These types of solutions combine ambitious design, natural color and texture, and improve the function and feel of your space. They provide continuity through great design choice, not because everything is real or artificial – which is exactly what Plantscape specializes in.
Plantscape Brings You Quality and Expertise for all Types of Plants – And Quality Is King for Replica
At Plantscape, we’re innovators in the replica industry as well as leaders in the plantscaping space with live plants. The Plantscape team does full-service real plant design and maintenance, including installations like living walls. And unlike some other providers, we are capable of fabricating our own replica plants with our sister company Elements Botanicals, meaning we have the highest level of knowledge and a greater ability to deliver on creative replica projects and at scale. Elements Botanicals can create anything from a single potted replica plant to large‑scale installations featuring full‑sized trees.
This means we don’t have a stake in selling you one option vs another: we are here to provide vision and execution on whatever works best for you and your business. If that’s real, artificial or a mix, we can advise you on the best path forward. We provide personalized design proposals for every client to show you exactly what opportunities you have using both real and replica plants.
If you are a business in the Pittsburgh area looking for plant options for your medical service, dealership, office, retail or other commercial space, reach out to us for a consultation. We can walk you through all your options, benefits and potential drawbacks, and help you create a design that improves your space for years to come.
