Succulents & Desert Plants

Artificial succulents and desert plants are the sculptural arid species - agave, yucca, cactus and aloe. They are architectural rather than soft, built on thick geometric leaves and hard silhouettes, and they suit warm-neutral interiors, desert-modern schemes, hotel courtyards and any room where the planting should look deliberate rather than lush.

Do artificial succulents look convincing up close?

Better than most artificial plants, because succulents are naturally the least organic-looking living plants there are. A real agave has flat, waxy, near-symmetrical leaves with clean edges and a matte surface - qualities that moulded foliage reproduces well, where a fine veined leaf with irregular thinning does not. The details that decide it are the surface finish and the tip. Look for a matte, slightly powdery bloom rather than a shine, and a leaf that genuinely tapers to a point instead of ending in a rounded moulding seam. Cacti are the hardest of the group to get right, because the spines are the whole read.

Where do artificial succulents work best?

Anywhere the light is wrong for the real thing, which is most interiors. Real agave, yucca and cactus want strong direct sun, so they fail in exactly the rooms people want them in - bathrooms, hallways, offices behind tinted glass, north-facing apartments. They also stop being an option outdoors across most of Canada, where a real agave will not see out the winter. Faux versions remove both problems, and they remove the spines, which matters in a public space or a home with small children. See Desert Style.

How to choose the right size

Split this category by viewing distance. Small succulents and aloes are close-range objects for a desk, shelf, counter or bathroom, and they need to be within arm's reach to be worth having - scattered around a large room they simply disappear. Agave and yucca are floor pieces and should be substantial, typically 3 feet and up in a heavy low bowl that lets the leaf structure spread. Do not mix the two scales in one planter: group the small pieces together and let the large ones stand alone. Browse Small Trees and Artificial Plants.

Frequently asked questions

How do we clean artificial succulents and cacti?

A soft-bristle brush, such as an old makeup brush, works into the tight rosette base better than a cloth. For spined cactus forms, a can of compressed air or a cool hair dryer setting clears dust from between the ridges without risking a scratch. Wipe the pot separately with a damp cloth rather than the plant itself, since waxy moulded leaves rarely need more than dry dusting.

Do these fade if kept on a covered outdoor spot?

Coloured or patterned foliage generally loses saturation faster under continuous direct sun than plain green does, and a piece rated for covered outdoor placement will still see some gradual fading over years of exposure rather than none at all. Rotating a piece occasionally and keeping it out of the harshest midday sun where the layout allows slows the effect.

Do these arrive ready to place, or is assembly needed?

Mostly ready. Rosette and columnar forms typically ship already shaped and seated in their pot or base, so setup is unpacking and gently easing any flattened leaves back into position. There is no branch structure to build the way there is with a floor tree, which is one reason this category travels and stores well.

Does the size listed include the pot?

Yes, the figure on each product page is the full piece, plant plus base, unless stated otherwise. Because succulents and agave are often bought by spread as much as height, check both dimensions on the page against the surface or floor space you have.

Can we move the plant into our own pot?

In many cases yes, since the piece is typically seated in its base rather than moulded into one solid unit, though this varies and is worth checking on the individual product page first. Where the base is fixed, dropping the whole pot into a larger decorative planter or cachepot achieves the same look without disturbing it.