Outdoor artificial plants: what can go outside and how to keep it looking right

Artificial plants can go outside if they are UV-stabilised, and only our UV-stabilised plants, trees and topiary are made for sunny patios, balconies and front doors. UV-stabilised products are guaranteed against fading for one year; everything else we sell is for indoor use or a covered spot out of direct sun. The table below compares every outdoor product we sell, with live prices and stock.

Compare every outdoor plant and tree

Every product in this table is UV-stabilised. Sort by height or price, or show only products in stock. The fire column shows which ones are also supplied by our manufacturer as fire-retardant (FR) grade, which matters for some commercial terraces.

In stock only Sort by Height: low to high Height: high to low Price: low to high Price: high to low

Image	Tree	Height	Spread	Fire-retardant	Price	Buy
	Artificial Cedar Cypress Topiary Tree Outdoor UV Resistant	60cm	20cm	No	£29.99£39.99	View
	120cm Buxus Ball Cone Artificial Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	45cm	No	£76.99£94.99	View
	140cm UV Resistant Artificial Ruscus Tree- 2716 leaves	140cm	70cm	No	£101.99£119.99	View
	120cm Buxus Triple Ball Artificial Tree UV Resistant Outdoor Topiary	120cm	40cm	No	£89.99	Back soon
	120cm Spiral Cypress Artificial Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	40cm	No	£89.99£99.99	Back soon
	120cm Artificial Bay Tree Laurel UV Resistant Outdoor Topiary	120cm	50cm	No	£79.99	View
	90cm UV Resistant Gloxinia Ball Topiary - 1608 Leaves, Natural Trunk	90cm	50cm	No	£99.99	Back soon
	120cm UV Resistant Artificial Japanese Ficus Leaf Tree	120cm	60cm	No	£55.99£64.99	View
	140cm UV Resistant Artificial Mango Leaf Tree	140cm	70cm	No	£99.99	View
	125cm Artificial Areca Palm Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	125cm	100cm	No	£59.99£69.99	View
	90cm UV Potted UV Grass Plant with Artificial Display Foliage	90cm	50cm	No	£55.99£64.99	View
	90cm UV Resistant Artificial Boston Fern Plant	90cm	60cm	No	£33.99£39.99	View
	90cm UV Resistant Artificial Yucca Plant	90cm	50cm	No	£53.99£59.99	View
	120cm Artificial Yucca Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	70cm	No	£59.99	View
	UV Resistant Outdoor 150cm Artificial Cypress Cedar Topiary Tree	150cm	50cm	No	£74.99	Back soon
	155cm Artificial UV Resistant XL Triple Yucca Tree Plant Spiky Dark	155cm	60cm	No	£119.99	View
	Large Spiral Buxus Artificial Topiary Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	40cm	No	£76.99£89.99	View
	120cm Spiral Buxus Artificial Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	30cm	No	£99.99	View
	140cm Buxus Ball Artificial Tree UV Resistant Outdoor Topiary	140cm	50cm	No	£89.99	Back soon
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Foliage Plant 85cm	85cm	40cm	FR grade	£19.99	View
	90cm UV Resistant Artificial Grass Plant	90cm	40cm	No	£39.99	View
	120cm UV Resistant Artificial Yucca - 238 Leaves	120cm	60cm	No	£99.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Plant Pearl String 92cm	92cm	15cm	FR grade	£14.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Peperomia Plant 68cm	68cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Green Pothos Plant 85cm	85cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	120cm UV Resistant Artificial Traveller Banana Palm Tree	120cm	50cm	No	£71.99£79.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Pothos Plant 71cm	71cm	30cm	FR grade	£14.99	View
	82cm UV & Fire Resistant Artificial Trailing Button Fern Plant	82cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Clustered Fern Plant 128cm	128cm	40cm	FR grade	£19.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Forest Foliage Plant 81cm	81cm	30cm	FR grade	£14.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Spider Fern Plant 78cm	78cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Angel Plant 76cm	76cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	30cm UV Resistant White Flower Bush Artificial	30cm	20cm	No	£12.99	View
	30cm UV Resistant Red Flower Bush Artificial	30cm	20cm	No	£12.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Variegated Plant 76cm	76cm	30cm	FR grade	£17.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial String Pearl Plant 75cm	75cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Fronded Thyme Plant 70cm	70cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	120cm Spiral Boxwood Artificial Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	40cm	No	£89.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Boston Fern Plant 75cm	75cm	30cm	FR grade	£10.99	View
	Hanging UV and Fire Resistant Artificial Small Leaf Plant 78cm	78cm	30cm	FR grade	£11.99	View
	150cm UV Protected Triple Ball Topiary Tree Artificial	150cm	50cm	No	£109.99	View
	120cm Red Aralia Tree Artificial UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	70cm	No	£89.99	Back soon
	120cm Artificial Cycas Palm Tree UV Resistant Outdoor	120cm	110cm	No	£71.99£79.99	Back soon
	120cm UV Resistant Artificial Ball Topiary - 480 Leaves	120cm	40cm	No	£99.99	Back soon
	150cm UV Resistant Artificial Traveller Banana Palm Tree	150cm	70cm	No	£99.99	View
	125cm UV Resistant Artificial Raphis Palm Tree with Natural Trunk	125cm	90cm	No	£99.99	Back soon
	105cm UV Resistant Artificial Yucca Tree with 179 Leaves	105cm	60cm	No	£99.99	Back soon
	180cm Premium UV Resistant Artificial Bamboo	180cm	90cm	No	£99.99	Back soon
	90cm UV Resistant Artificial Onion Grass Stem Green Outdoor	90cm	60cm	No	£25.99£29.99	Back soon
	180cm Areca Palm Artificial UV Resistant	180cm	90cm	No	£116.99	Back soon

Live prices and stock. Heights are overall, from the bottom of the pot (or of the stem, for stem flowers and ferns) to the top of the leaves. Spreads are as arranged in our photos, and wired stems can be shaped wider or narrower.

UV-stabilised or not: what the label means

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) light, which gradually breaks down the colour in plastic and fabric foliage. UV-stabilised products are designed to resist that process, which is why they are the ones made for use in direct sun. Every product in our outdoor range has "UV" in its name, so you can tell them apart at a glance.

Anything that is not UV-stabilised should stay indoors or in a covered spot out of direct sun. That includes sun through glass: strong light in a conservatory or a south-facing window can fade standard foliage too. Our article on how to stop artificial plants fading in sunlight covers bright indoor spots in more detail.

Read each product page before you choose a position. A few UV-stabilised products are described for sheltered spots rather than full exposure: our 60cm cedar cypress topiary, for example, is described for indoor use or a sheltered spot outdoors.

Covered and exposed positions

How much sun, wind and rain a spot gets decides what you can put there. As a rule of thumb, if direct sun reaches the plant at any time of day, treat the spot as exposed.

• Enclosed porch: if the porch is out of direct sun, an indoor plant is fine. If sun falls on the plant through the glass for much of the day, choose a UV-stabilised one.
• Open porch or canopy: a roof keeps off the rain but not low morning or evening sun. Choose UV-stabilised if the sun reaches the plant.
• Balcony: usually exposed to both sun and wind. Choose UV-stabilised and plan for wind (see below).
• Open patio, terrace or garden: full exposure. Use only UV-stabilised products.
• South- or west-facing wall: the sunniest and warmest positions in a UK garden. Use only UV-stabilised products, and turn them regularly so one side doesn't take all the sun.

Wind and stability

Wind causes more trouble outdoors than anything else. Most of our outdoor trees and topiary arrive in a weighted plastic starter pot, which keeps them steady indoors but may not be enough on an exposed patio or balcony. The taller the tree and the wider its canopy, the more wind it catches.

1. Add weight. Stand the starter pot inside a heavier outdoor planter and fill the gap with gravel, sand or stones. A wide, heavy base is steadier than a tall, narrow one.
2. Choose a sheltered spot. Corners, walls and the side of a building away from the prevailing wind are calmer than open lawns or roof terraces.
3. Fix it where you can. On a balcony, tie the trunk or the planter to the railing with soft garden ties, if your building allows it. A hanging plant needs a hook or bracket strong enough to hold it when it swings in the wind, not just when it hangs still.
4. Move it before a storm. When strong winds are forecast, lay tall trees on their side or move them into a garage, shed or porch until the storm has passed.

Choosing a planter for outside

The planter does as much work outdoors as the plant: it holds the weight that keeps a tree upright and it has to cope with rain and frost. When you choose one:

• Size: as a rule of thumb, pick a planter whose opening is a few centimetres wider than the starter pot, so the pot drops inside and sits below the rim. Check the starter-pot size in the product details.
• Weight: heavy materials such as stone, concrete and thick ceramic resist wind better than light plastic or fibreglass, unless you add ballast.
• Drainage: choose a planter with drainage holes, so rain can't collect around the starter pot.
• Frost: check that the planter is described as frost-resistant by its maker if it will stay out all winter.
• Top dressing: finish with bark, pebbles or slate chippings. They hide the starter pot and add a little extra weight.

Winter and wet weather

Our UV-stabilised products are designed to be used outdoors. In a UK winter, the things to watch are standing water, snow and wind.

• Frozen water: standing water can freeze and crack a ceramic or stone planter. Raise planters on pot feet so water can drain freely from the holes.
• Starter pots: if the starter pot sits inside a decorative planter, check the gap after heavy rain and tip out any water that has collected.
• Snow: brush heavy snow off branches and topiary shapes so its weight doesn't bend them.
• Natural wood trunks: where a tree has a natural wood trunk, keep its base out of standing water.
• Storms: the wind advice above matters most between autumn and spring, when most storms arrive.

If you have space in a shed or garage, bringing small pieces such as window-box flowers and hanging plants under cover for the worst of the winter is an easy way to protect them.

Setting up an outdoor plant when it arrives

Trees and topiary are packed tightly for delivery, so give them a few minutes of attention before they go outside.

1. Unpack the plant indoors or somewhere sheltered, and remove all the packaging.
2. Bend the branches outwards and slightly down, then separate the leaves so they face in different directions. Our guide to fluffing and shaping artificial plants shows how.
3. Stand the starter pot inside your outdoor planter, pack the gap with gravel or stones, and add a top dressing.
4. Put the plant in position and check it from the angle people will see it from, such as the gate, the street or your seat on the patio. Turn it until its best side faces that way.

Choosing by location

Front door

A matching pair of topiary trees either side of the door is the classic choice. For a door that gets direct sun, choose UV-stabilised topiary such as the 120cm bay laurel, the 120cm spiral buxus and boxwood trees, the 120cm buxus ball cone or the 150cm triple ball topiary. Our front door topiary range also includes popular bay balls and spirals that are not UV-stabilised. Those suit a covered porch out of direct sun, or an indoor hallway.

Patio and terrace

Larger trees give a seating area height and a little privacy. Our UV-stabilised outdoor trees include yuccas, an areca palm, traveller banana palms, a mango leaf tree, a ruscus tree and a Japanese ficus leaf tree, most of them 120–155cm tall as arranged in our photos. Two or three trees of different heights, grouped in a corner, look more natural than a single tree in the middle of a patio.

For hotel, restaurant and pub terraces, our guide to artificial plants for hospitality covers entrances, terraces and indoor spaces together.

Balcony

Space is usually tight and wind is strong, so compact plants suit most balconies. The 90cm UV-stabilised yucca, Boston fern and grass plants all come in a weighted starter pot. Our UV-stabilised hanging plants are 68–128cm long as arranged in our photos and can trail from a bracket or a railing planter. If you live in a block of flats, check your building's rules before you fix anything to a balcony.

Hanging baskets and railings

Our UV-stabilised hanging plants come as bare stems without a pot, so you can set one or two in a lined hanging basket or a railing planter and let them trail over the edge. A mix of textures, such as a pothos with a string of pearls, looks fuller than several of the same plant. Use a bracket that suits the weight of a wet basket in wind.

Window boxes and planters

Our 30cm UV-stabilised flower bushes, in red or white, are bare stems that you arrange in your own window box or planter. The 90cm potted UV grass plant has extra display foliage around its base, so it fills a garden planter well. You can browse all of our UV-stabilised outdoor plants, including the hanging plants and flower bushes.

Mixing with real plants

UV-stabilised plants sit well among real ones. Use them where real plants struggle, such as a deep-shade corner, a windy balcony or a pot you can't reach to water, and let the real plants fill the easier spots. Match the pot style so the artificial plants don't stand out.

Common outdoor mistakes

• Using an indoor plant in the sun. A plant that isn't UV-stabilised may look fine at first, but strong sun fades its foliage. Check for "UV" in the product name before you buy.
• Relying on the starter pot alone. A weighted starter pot is designed to keep a plant upright indoors; outdoors, stand it in a heavier planter.
• Choosing a planter with no drainage. Standing water adds weight in the wrong place and can freeze in winter.
• Buying too small. Plants look smaller outside than they do in a room. If you are unsure between two heights, the taller one usually looks better by a front door or on a large patio.

UV and fire-retardant plants for commercial terraces

Our UV-stabilised hanging plants are also supplied by our manufacturer as fire-retardant (FR) grade, which some commercial venues ask for. Fire-retardant does not mean fireproof: the plants can still burn. We can supply fire certificates for commercial projects. Contact us for more information. Our guide to fire-retardant artificial plants explains what the terms mean.

Whatever the plant, keep it well away from patio heaters, fire pits, barbecues and candles.

Care outdoors

Outdoor plants collect dust, pollen and cobwebs faster than indoor ones, but they need very little care.

• Brush off dust and cobwebs every month or two with a soft brush. Where the product description says the plant can be hosed off, a gentle spray of cold water works too; let it dry naturally.
• Brush out leaves and debris that settle in the canopy or on top of the pot.
• Give each plant a quarter turn every few weeks so every side gets a similar share of sun.
• Reshape bent branches after strong wind.

Our artificial plant care guide covers cleaning in more detail. If you are still deciding on a species or a size, our guide to choosing an artificial tree compares them side by side.