I don’t have a green thumb. Year after year, season after season I purchase flowers, plants and trees and undoubtedly, they all die a slow death. Just can’t seem to get it together enough to keep live plants alive. I either water them too much, not enough or simply forget about them all together (I know, you gardeners are rolling your eyes at me right now). Not sure how you green thumbs do it but I salute you. So I’m a confessed plant killer but I still love incorporating nature and greenery into my inside and outside decor. That’s why this year, I purchased A LOT of faux topiary’s, bushes, shrubs, flowers, plants and trees. Why didn’t I think of doing this sooner? One faux plant that I have in almost every room is a fiddle leaf tree. I have them in all sizes from 1 ft, 3 ft , 4 ft and 5 ft tall. Fiddle leaf plants and trees bring in the nature element I like to decorate with in a space. Tall ones add height in an otherwise empty and boring corner of a room. Small ones can be used to fill in voided spaces or sit against a wall to hide unsightly plugs or vents on walls. I have fiddle leaf plants/trees in almost every room of my home. Even the bathroom! Based on my purchases of these faux plants, I’ve put together this blog (and an IGTV video) comparing faux fiddle leaf trees of three favorites. You can also catch my 5 minute video review of these trees on IGTV. Follow me @tamiinbetween for the review and other home tips!
Comparing Faux Fiddles
Leaves
The leaves on the three faux trees have the same feel to them. They are papery-plastic with a hint of silky. They are firm and pliable making them all easy to move and manipulate. The detail on the leaves themselves have some variance.
The Home Goods tree leaves
These leaves are the most realistic. They have a dark green blade with a thin mid rib and very pronounced vascular veining in a lighter green color. The leaves also have some realistic creasing along the ribs. Not sure if this is intentional or accidentally. Regardless, these leaves appear the most realistic of the three trees.
The Target tree leaves
The leaves are the least realistic in my opinion. Leaves consist of two colors with no shading. The blade color is a deep dark bright green and the mid rib is very pronounced in a light green color. The veining is not as realistic as the other two leaves. It almost has a reptile pattern to the veining in my opinion.
The QVC tree leaves
These leaf blades have two main colors. The majority of the blade is dark green and the mid rib and veining are all lime green color. There are some very light areas to create some shading on the leaves. The mid rib is not very pronounced and the veining is as vascular as the other two trees. Also, I should note that the QVC tree was the only one I received shipped in a box (a very small box). The tree was crammed inside so some leaves were creased, however, they fell out after a couple days.
Bark/Trunks
The Home Goods tree bark
The Home Goods tree bark is the most realistic. The bark and trunk appear real by sight and touch. It has the texture, pattern and coloring of real wood.
The Target tree bark
Target tree bark is textured and has some roughness that mimics real bark. It’s coloring is shades of brown with green that mimics a live healthy tree. The diameter of the tree trunk is the thinnest of the three trees. It also has the least number of off shoots or branches.
The QVC tree bark
The QVC tree bark and trunk is also smaller in diameter. It has the most off shoots or branches. The bark appears to be a little less woody and more plastic in appearance. It has a slight texture and is easy to bend and manipulate to fit into a corner. Probably due to the thickness of the “branches” being less substantial.
Base
The Home Goods tree base
This base had me a bit confused. The tree is firmly encased in a Home Goods soft sided two toned basket. At first I thought another customer placed the tree in a basket and it was two pieces to purchase separately. However after closer inspection I saw that the tree is permanently attached to the basket by expandable foam. I’ve seen these baskets at Home Goods (I’ve actually purchased a few over the years). The price point did not reflect getting a tree AND a basket so that is a win! I am a person that moves decor from room to room and I like the flexibility to change out my plants to different baskets and pots. So, the fact that this one is permanently in its basket/pot isn’t great. However, if I want to change it up, I can dig out the tree from the foam and cut away the basket.
The Target tree base
This tree is in the nicest base by far. It is a clean, white, ceramic pot. Very heavy duty and solid base so the tree stands freely without worry of it tipping over. The white pot will go with everything and it is still small enough that it will easily fit into other pots or baskets if you want to change the look.
The QVC tree base
This tree virtually has no base! It comes in what is described as a “planters pot”. Which basically means a useless tiny base that barely allows the tree to stand upright. The necessity to put this faux tree in your own pot or basket and secure it someway is imminent. I put this tree in my own basket and secured it with some pea gravel for stability.
Faux Fiddle Leafs In My Home
I wasn’t joking when I said I have a faux fiddle leaf in practically every room of my home! They just fit well into every room and always look so good no matter where you place them! As for what I consider the best tree value. That would be the Home Goods faux fiddle leaf tree. It looks the most “real” in my opinion. It is also the best price point since it comes with a decent basket (although, the basket may need to be ruined to swap it out for another). The QVC faux fiddle is my second favorite. QVC also sells this tree in different sizes. You can get it in 6″ ($83) here, 5″ ($59) here, 4″ ($44) here. Keep in mind they all come in a “potters stand” that is pretty flimsy unless you want to spent more money for one with a basket. Lastly, the Target faux fiddle is my least favorite. Actually, I returned it after this review. I could not justify the pric point of $130 just for the nice pot. Considering that the entire time I had it, I put it into another basket and couldn’t even see the ceramic pot it came with.
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