You may have little access to sunlight in the house, or just want something that is easy to maintain, an artificial ficus is always a great solution to brighten the entire room. However, in the world of such a great diversity and styles, how to choose the best artificial ficus trees to adorn your house?
Let us help. This blog will introduce you to most popular ficus varieties, what type of place they suit, and how to choose one so it complements your decor.
10 Best Artificial Ficus Trees In Various Varieties and Styles
Different ficus varieties give very different looks. There are soft and airy ficus, bold ficus, and truly dramatic ficus that overpower a place. You must learn what fits in your space and aesthetic requirements prior to buying.
1- Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig)
This is the all time favourite ficus type, seen around homes and offices. It has thick, cascading-foliaged and small, often sharp leaves, which provide a full and lush look.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: Its branches are usually scattered widely and very lightly, and are good in filling those corners, or in smoothing the lines created by modern furniture.
- Placement: It is usually a very tall artificial ficus tree, but also comes with thick canopy appropriate to add privacy or visual mass.
2- Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf)
Fiddle Leaf Fig is a baby of the modern decorators, and is instantly identified by the gigantic, violin-like leaves, which grow upwards on one stem, thick and single.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: It is bold, architectural and modern. The large leaves are used as a gigantic focal point, providing drama to a minimalistic space.
- Placement: Best fit in narrow spaces where you would prefer the plant to be tall, but not very wide.
3- Ficus Elastica (Rubber Plant)
This ficus is thick and broad-leafed, somewhat shiny. Some varieties of it are variegated, with burgundy or pinkish margin on leaves. Artificial ones appear very realistic as the leaves are stiff by nature.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: This plant is more retro, sculptural and graphic compared to the others. Its leaves are simpler and more uniform in general giving it a clean bold shape.
- Placement: Good in a high-end, industrial or Art Deco-inspired room. The sturdier structure makes it appear very clean.
4- Braided-Trunk Ficus
It is a styling option that is common with the Weeping Fig type whereby several narrow trunks are loosely intertwined as the tree matures forming a distinctive and interwoven base.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: The braided trunk gives it a little bit of texture and visual interest on the very bottom and makes it look more manicured and purposeful, almost European garden-like.
- Placement & Features: Placed where the base of the tree is easily visible which is the focal point—in close range corners, offices etc.
5- Bonsai-Style Ficus
These are small Ficus, with a thick, artistic trunk, and a small, moulded canopy. They are normally placed on tables, shelves or desks as opposed to the floor.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: These plants offer a calm, minimalist and luxurious experience that offers a calming, Zen feel to a room- an element of living art.
- Placement: The size difference is significant, so it’s used as an accent, on desktops, console tables, or as a centerpiece in other small spaces.
6- Ficus Alii (Long-Leaf Fig)
This type is characterized by the thin and willow-like leaves that are far longer and thinner than the traditional Benjamina. It has a lighter and more subtle texture which is graceful and light.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: It has a flowing look that is graceful. Its thin leaves form a feathery outline that is more sophisticated and not as busy as plants with round foliage.
- Placement: This is very good in areas of transition such as hallways and doorways where you do not want to feel like the greenery is pushing you.
7- Variegated Ficus Benjamina
Another variation of the traditional Weeping Fig, this one has leaves that have creamy white or pale yellow edges. It resembles the appearance of a plant in the dappled sunlight.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: It is light and happy, and it would be ideal in breaking up a palette of solid dark greens in a home jungle set up.
- Placement: This should be used in the darker areas of a room to make the illusion of light and lift the energy of the area.
8- Ficus Audrey (Ficus Benghalensis)
The Audrey is often referred to as the new Fiddle Leaf Fig with the leaves being matte and velvety green with the veins standing out prominently. It is the national tree of India and it is becoming very popular in the interior design.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: It offers a more “true tree” aesthetic with an open structure. It is not as dramatic as the Fiddle Leaf but more substantial than the Benjamina and it is a perfect balance between classic and modern.
- Placement: Perfect as a single work of art in a living room or a dining room where one can view its balanced proportions on all sides.
9- Columnar Fiddle Leaf Fig
The standard Fiddle Leaf tends to branch off at the top but the columnar one is trained to produce leaves all along the trunk, forming a literal pillar of green.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: Very architectural and high-fashion. It focuses on vertical lines and produces a very clean and organized look of a room.
- Placement: These are the final corner fillers to high ceilinged rooms or narrow spaces between windows where width is restricted.
10- Burgundy Rubber Tree (Ficus Elastica ‘Abidjan’)
This is a particular color shade of the Rubber Plant; the leaves are deep chocolatey-maroon or almost black in hue and have a dark, dramatic appearance.
(Source: Pinterest)
- Look & Vibe: Bold and masculine. The dark shiny leaves are a very beautiful contrast to white or light colored walls and serve as almost a dark piece of furniture.
- Placement: The placement is most appropriate in contemporary offices or dark-themed rooms that have brass hardware or leather furniture.
Choosing the Best Artificial Ficus Trees (Step-by-Step Guide)
So now we shall proceed to the considerations that are imperative when choosing a good quality faux Ficus.
Step 1 — Measure Your Space
A tree that is excessively large will overwhelm the room and a too small one will be lost and misplaced.
- Height: The common rule is to maintain at least one foot distance between tree and ceiling. For standard ceilings, a 5–6 ft ficus tree should feel balanced.
- Width/Spread: Measure the space on the floor to make sure the canopy would not encroach upon any walking space. When planting the tree under a wall sconce, beside a window or under an air vent, be careful not to have the leaves come in contact with the surfaces.
Step 2 — Match With Your Interior
As it was mentioned above, various Ficus species have varying aesthetic values..
- Modern/Minimalist: Go for the Ficus Lyrata or Ficus Elastica. Their huge and simple leaves and straight lines introduce a contemporary element.
- Traditional/Bohemian: The Ficus Benjamina is perfect here. Its dense, somewhat untidy and natural shape adds to a vintage and luxurious feel. The braided-trunk can also be used in more formal traditional rooms.
- Eclectic/Global: A smaller, statement piece like the Bonsai-Style Ficus will add a touch of Asian or Zen influence.
Step 3 — Evaluate Realism
Leaves are the first thing people notice. Cheap artificial ficus trees usually fail here. Always look closely at the product photos and read detailed descriptions focused on these three areas:
- Leaf Quality: The leaves should not be uniformly bright green. The expensive trees have different color tones of green (lighter on the new growth, darker on the old leaves) and minor flaws such as small veins. Flat, shiny, or overly dark leaves are a giveaway.
- Branching Structure: Real ficus trees don’t grow perfectly symmetrical. Artificial ones should not either. Your tree should have multiple branch levels and flexible inner wires that can be spread as needed. The junctions of the leaves and the branches must appear to be natural.
- Trunk Material: The best trunks are often made from real, preserved wood or resin molded with natural texture, knots, and colour variations. A smooth, painted plastic trunk will immediately give it away as a cheap copy.
Step 4 —Silk vs PE vs Real-Touch Materials
The term “silk” is often used generically as realistic material. However, modern faux foliage today uses much better polymer materials.
| Material Type | How It Looks and Feels | Pros | Cons |
| Silk/Fabric | Light, thin fabric; made of a poly blend, very common for Weeping Fig. | -Lightweight-Allows for complex dyeing patterns. | -Can fray over time-Easily detects dust-Can look cheap/shiny |
| PE (Polyethylene) | Made of injection-moulded plastic, very durable | -Stable to achieve 3D shape and thickness-Very tough-UV-resistant options | -Lower quality feels stiff-Slightly higher initial cost. |
| Real-Touch (PE/Latex) | Blend of two, made with a thin latex or PU coating. | -Imitates the fine texture and the fullness of an actual leaf. | -Higher cost-Can degrade slightly over many years compared to pure PE. |
Step 5 — Check Potting, Base Weight, and Stability
A ficus, especially tall ones, requires a heavy base for stability.
- Most artificial ficus trees come in basic nursery pots. This is really good, as you can put them in a decorative planter or basket which is compatible with your interior.
- Whatever pot you have, make sure it is weighted (normally using cement or plaster) to ensure that the tree is straight. In case the tree is high (6 feet or more), it should be weighted and wide.
- The “soil” should be neatly finished, often covered with preserved moss or little pebbles, which contributes to the effect of being in a pot.
Step 6 — Vendor Reputation + Return Policies
Often you cannot physically inspect the tree, so the vendor’s guarantee is your safety net. Do not use unfamiliar or purely dropshipping websites.
- Give preference to retailers or manufacturers (such as HRtrees) of home decor and artificial plants, since they tend to have greater quality control and better materials.
- Modern artificial ficus tree manufacturers also provide UV-treatments, paramount if you plan to place the tree under sunlight exposure.
- Returns are usually easy but shipping back large trees can be expensive. Check damage and replacement policies before ordering.
Key Takeaways
- The best artificial Ficus trees are constructed with quality, have realistic features and they suit your room in terms of style and size.
- Material choice affects durability and price more than looks. For the best tactile realism, choose trees made with modern PE or “Real-Touch” materials.
- Do not forget after sale services: ensure your vendor will be there to help if some issue comes up after the purchase.
In need of high-quality artificial ficus trees with realistic features and quality production? HRtrees is a brand that can be trusted. They have a vast variety of plants that will fit any space and style without any pressure.
