This blog was first posted on July 15, 2020. Here is an update on the faux plants! Everything is still intact and used in my back patio. Although some of the faux greenery is a bit faded, they still look good enough to be used in the outdoor space! Most of the furniture has been updated (and painted) white since this post. Everything else has withstood the last few years and still in great shape!
It’s July and I can’t tell you how good it feels to walk out onto my back patio and see all the plants, shrubs and flowers alive, green and happy. If you follow my blog or you just know me, you know I do not have a green thumb. Any living plant that comes into my home has been given a definite death sentence. Sad, I know. I try, believe me. I try. Tending to plants is just not my forte. Knowing this, you can appreciate my elation to sit on my back patio among greenery that is zero maintenance and I can’t kill. Of course, the secret is that all the plants, shrubs and flowers are all faux! This year I decided to go 100% faux and it was the best decision ever! All the faux greenery looks so real (I’m no gardener but seriously, the faux plants are so realistic). No more worrying about over-watering, under-watering or guilt from killing another plant. If you have a lack of gardening skills like me, I’m sharing my backyard patio faux plants because I’m so happy with how real everything looks and how easy it is to maintain. As in so easy, I DO NOTHING! If you’re just not a green thumb or too busy to tend to keeping plants alive (I am guilty of both) then I hope this helps with some ideas for your own backyard “faux real” plant oasis!
This artificial 18″ double ball topiary from Amazon sits in a pot and gives this sitting area a needed pop of color in a simple way.
Two Boston fern with burlap planter (set of 2) from QVC by Nearly Natural. They measure 18″ x 22″ by 15″. The planter is 4.75 x 5 x 5. I’m not sure they are for “outdoor” use but they are made from plastic, wire and burlap. I leave them outside all day/night and no problems. They look as good as the day I got them. They are also weighted which is nice so they have stayed put during a couple good wind/rain storms. They look amazing on the Dekton countertop: color Trilium (the BEST outdoor counter top solution).
These hedyotis boxood topiaries from Wayfair come in a small planters pot and are sold in a pair. They are currently sold out but restock often so check back. They can be used indoor or out (you will def being seeing these in my Christmas decor this winter). I love these! They are realistic, woody looking. Not perfectly round topiary (which I think adds to its “realness”). They have some heft to them so they stay put. I have them in planters (all planters were purchased at HomeGoods on clearance) used as a border decoration. I have the fourth one in a pot on the patio step which you will see below.
Artifical grass foliage plant in white pot came from Home Goods. Similar one linked below. This space needed some height and this faux plant works well. However, I’m pretty sure this is not meant for outside. The grass is starting to bend and “wilt”. Oh geez…is it possible I kill a faux plant? Don’t put it past me. I purchased two of these and put the other under the gazebo which is out of direct elements and is fairing a bit better than this one. I like it here but it may only last one season if I leave it.
Bamboo floor baskets are a great way to raise plants and flowers to eye level. They usually come in sets and can be arranged together or apart. Here I placed a faux hydrangea planter (came in the stainless bucket but not the aesthetic I wanted) so I placed the entire arrangement (bucket and all) inside a pot that matches my decor and put all that into the bamboo basket. The baskets are very lightweight and need weight so they don’t blow over. I place a flat rock in the bottom of the basket first and my pot and plant goes in next.
I purchased two faux 5 ft tall spiral boxwoods from QVC a couple years ago for the front porch. They were left out year round on the front porch until this summer. I purchased new topiary plants for the front porch and moved these to the back porch. They have held up remarkable well. They have been outside year round for a few years and look as good as when I bought them about 3 years ago. The rocking swivel chairs from Costco. Brand is Agio Cordova. Sold out. Solar lights and candle holder are Opalhouse for Target.
A really simple and economical faux plant hack is to purchase a large spray of any plant or flower (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc). Here I have a large bundle of faux fern. After placing a rock in the bottom of my bamboo basket I put the fern spray in the basket for a really quick and easy display
This area has a little bit of everything. Color, width and height. For height I have this cute lemon tree that I found on clearance. Kirkland’s has a similar 5 ft tree for $35!! It is 50% off right now here. If lemon trees are not your thing, bring in heigt and fullness with a fiddle leaf plant or tree or ficus. I have several of these around my home inside and out. Here is a review I did recently of fiddle leaf trees here.
I found all the ceramic pots for the backyard at Home Goods this year on super duper clearance. I bought three sizes of pots and used them throughout the area. They are all the same color with different patterns which brings in some texture to the patio space in an unassuming way. The hydrangea arrangement is in a stainless bucket so I put that in the pot to match my aesthetic. These hydrangeas will likely be used in a fall front porch decor where I will bring in the stainless steel element. I love being able to use decor many ways for many seasons in different areas of my home. You will see these hydrangeas a lot down the road I guarantee. Lastly, the 4th hedyotis boxwood topiary is placed in this pot for some faux greenery on the steps from the house to the patio. The Wayfair hedyotis boxwood come in a pair of two. The other three are used as landscape in picture above. Also, in the background pic is The Big Green Egg. Its a smoker and grill and I love it! Learn more about it here.
