Large Artificial Trees

Large artificial trees are floor-standing faux specimens from roughly seven to sixteen feet, built on reinforced or real-wood trunks so they hold their shape at full height. This is the part of the range hoteliers, designers and facilities teams buy from most — lobby-scale banyan and ficus, tall olive and palm specimens, and blossom trees sized for a double-height atrium rather than a living room.

What counts as a large artificial tree?

Seven feet is the practical threshold. Below that a tree reads as furniture; above it, it reads as architecture and starts doing the job a large plant is usually hired for — breaking up a tall volume, softening a hard corner, or giving a reception desk something to sit against. Most of what is here runs 8, 10 and 12 feet, with a smaller group of 15 and 16 foot specimens for atriums and concourses. Anything shorter sits in Medium Trees (2–7 ft).

What are some artificial indoor trees that look real?

Realism at this scale comes from the trunk, not the leaves. A ten-foot tree is read from across a room, so what registers first is the taper, the bark texture and whether the branching looks like something that grew rather than something that was assembled. The most convincing large specimens here use real wood or moulded fiberglass trunks with irregular branch structure — olive, banyan and ficus in particular. Dense single-species canopies such as fiddle leaf fig hold up well at closer range.

How to choose the right size

Measure your finished ceiling height, subtract at least 18 inches, then subtract the height of the planter you intend to use. A ten-foot tree in a 14-inch planter needs roughly 11 ft 6 in of clear height before the crown starts pressing into the ceiling. In a standard 8-foot residential room, 6 to 7 feet is the ceiling; 10 feet and above belongs in stairwells, mezzanines and commercial lobbies. Check the delivery route as well — canopies ship compressed, but trunks do not fold. For the outdoor-rated part of this range see UV Resistant & Outdoor Safe.

Frequently asked questions

Do large trees for a hotel or commercial lobby need to be fire-rated?

Requirements vary by province, building type and where the tree sits in the space, so this needs checking against your specific project rather than assumed. In Canada, fire officials generally reference CAN/ULC-S109; in the US, NFPA 701 is the common benchmark. Ask for documentation from anyone you buy from, including us, and confirm the exact requirement with your local authority having jurisdiction before specifying a large tree for a public or commercial space.

How stable is a 10 to 16 ft tree, and does it need extra weight at the base?

A tall canopy is top-heavy, so the base matters more here than on anything smaller. Most large trees in this range use a reinforced or real-wood trunk with a weighted planter or base built for the height, but check the individual product details, and add sand, gravel or a heavier planter if the piece will stand somewhere exposed to foot traffic, doors or draughts. A tree this size that gets knocked without adequate base weight can genuinely tip.

How do you clean dust off a tree this large, including the upper canopy?

The top of a 10 ft or taller canopy is out of easy reach, so a long-handled feather duster or an extendable microfibre pole handles the upper branches without a ladder for most rooms. A leaf blower on a low setting or compressed air clears dense foliage quickly from a stepladder for anything taller still. Work top to bottom so dislodged dust does not resettle on leaves you have already cleaned. Lower branches can be wiped by hand as usual.

How much assembly is involved, and how many people does it take to set up a large tree?

Trunks ship built, with branches folded or wrapped flat for the box, so assembly is mainly separating and shaping branches rather than construction. One person can usually shape and place a tree up to about 8 ft alone; above that, two people make it considerably easier, both for lifting an assembled tree into its planter and for holding branches steady while shaping. Our unboxing and shaping guide covers the technique.

Will a large tree survive being placed near an entrance with cold draughts or occasional outdoor exposure?

Most large trees in this range are indoor-grade and built for consistent interior conditions, not sustained cold or direct weather. A brief draught near a revolving door will not damage indoor-grade foliage or trunks, but a genuinely unheated atrium or an exterior placement needs a tree specifically rated for it. Check the product details for outdoor suitability, or browse our UV-Resistant Outdoor range for anything going outside.