Commercial Artificial Plants

Commercial artificial plants are faux trees and greenery specified for spaces the public uses (hotel lobbies, restaurant floors, office receptions, malls and showrooms), where planting has to survive foot traffic, poor light and a facilities budget that does not include a horticulturalist. What separates this range from a homeware purchase is scale, repeatability and the ability to reorder the identical item for a second site next year.

Our position on fire documentation. Eververda publishes a fire figure only where documentation exists for that specific piece, and describes nothing as "fire rated". On a commercial quote we establish the occupancy, the adopted code edition and what your authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) will accept as documentation, in writing, before the order. Where no documented route exists for a piece, we say so and set out the alternatives. We do not claim a certificate for any product.

What is the best fake plant to use in the office?

Whatever survives being ignored, which in an office means broad, matte, dust-shedding foliage rather than fine or fuzzy leaves. Fiddle leaf fig, rubber plant, monstera and areca palm all work well because their leaves are large enough to wipe down in one pass and simple enough that a slightly imperfect surface still reads as a leaf. Fine-needled and heavily textured foliage collects dust visibly and needs far more attention. Size the tree to the ceiling, not the desk: reception areas usually want one specimen at 7 ft or above rather than several small pots. See For Offices & Workspaces.

Should I get a real indoor plant or fake?

For a commercial interior the deciding question is who waters it. Real planting in a public space is effectively a service contract (a rotation schedule, replacement stock and someone accountable for it), which is why so much corporate greenery quietly dies in month four. Faux planting converts that recurring cost into a single purchase, works in windowless cores and basements where nothing living will hold, with no watering or light needed. Real planting still wins where air quality, biophilic research outcomes or a sustainability claim are the actual brief. Many projects sensibly do both.

How to choose the right size

Scale to the volume, not the floor plan. In a double-height lobby, anything under 7 ft disappears; specify 10 to 12 ft and let one tree do the work of five. In a standard 9-foot office ceiling, 6 to 7 ft is the maximum before the room feels crowded. For multi-site rollouts, choose products with several height variants so you can match a consistent look across ceilings that differ. Related ranges: For Hotels & Lobbies and Large Artificial Trees.

Frequently asked questions

Do artificial plants for hotels, restaurants and offices need fire documentation?

It depends on the occupancy, the code edition your jurisdiction has adopted and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), who decides what is acceptable. In the United States, the International Fire Code accepts either NFPA 701 (Test Method 1 or 2) or NFPA 289 (20 kW ignition source, 100 kW maximum heat release rate) for artificial vegetation, at Section 807.4.1 from the 2018 edition onward and Section 806.2 in the 2015 edition, which some jurisdictions still run. In Ontario, Article 2.3.2.1 of the Ontario Fire Code requires decorative materials to meet CAN/ULC-S109 in listed locations, a lobby or exit among them, but it does not name artificial vegetation, so confirm with your fire prevention officer. Outside Ontario, confirm the code in force with your AHJ. We publish a fire figure only where documentation exists for that specific piece, and we do not claim a certificate for any product. See fire documentation for commercial artificial greenery.

How do these hold up to dust and cleaning in a high-traffic lobby or reception?

Broad, matte-leaf species such as fiddle leaf fig, rubber plant and areca palm are the easiest to keep looking presentable, because a facilities team can wipe them down in one pass without touching every leaf individually. A weekly dusting with a cloth or duster, plus an occasional rinse in a shower or with a hose for larger specimens, keeps foliage from dulling. Fine-textured or densely packed foliage takes noticeably longer to clean and shows dust sooner between visits.

Can any of these go on an outdoor patio, and will a Canadian winter damage them?

Some pieces in this range are listed for outdoor exposure and some are not, so check the individual product details before placing anything outside a covered, climate-controlled interior. Indoor-grade foliage and trunk finishes will fade under sustained UV and can crack or discolour through freeze-thaw cycles. For patios, pool decks and other exterior commercial spaces, look at our For Pools & Patios and UV-Resistant Outdoor ranges instead.

What should a facilities buyer check before specifying these across multiple sites?

Confirm the finished height includes the pot or base, not just the trunk, since that is what determines ceiling clearance. Check whether the item ships with a weighted base suitable for open-plan foot traffic, and whether the same model is available in more than one height so a rollout can match different ceilings with one consistent look. If reordering the identical item next year matters, keep a record of the exact product handle and specification you chose.

Is the height listed the finished height once the piece is potted and standing?

Yes, height is given as the finished, potted height as the piece will stand on site, measured to the top of the foliage, unless a product specifically states trunk-only. This matters most in commercial specifying, where a few inches decides whether a piece clears a doorway, a mezzanine edge or a sprinkler line. If a project has a hard clearance limit, treat the stated height as a maximum and allow a small margin for natural variation between units.