The demand for artificial commercial trees is rising as more hotels, offices, retail spaces, and healthcare facilities move toward permanent greenery that doesn't need sunlight, water, fertilizer, or pest control. For procurement teams and designers managing a commercial property, that means a lower-maintenance, more predictable investment than live trees, without sacrificing the finished look of the space.
This guide walks through what to look for when choosing artificial commercial trees, from species and trunk type to indoor and outdoor materials, so you can make the right call for your space before you buy. For a closer look at build options, see Greenscape's custom artificial trees.
Commercial artificial trees are full-size, professionally fabricated trees built for permanent placement in a business environment, not the smaller decorative pieces sold for home use, and not the temporary props used for a single event or production. They're purchased and installed to remain in place for years. A commercial artificial tree is a long-term feature of the space, built to a specific design, size, and location.
Unlike their living counterparts, artificial trees do not need sunlight, water, fertilizers, or pesticides, which makes them almost maintenance-free. You also do not need to wait for a long time before your selected trees or plants grow to their full size. You can have a full-size artificial tree perfectly crafted to fit your space, delivered, and installed on a timeline that works for you.
The design choices and flexibility with artificial foliage are endless and can be customized to meet your exact design needs and specifications. With live foliage, you don't have that same control over how the plants and trees will grow and form naturally. For businesses managing multiple locations or high-visibility areas like lobbies and entrances, that consistency, paired with no risk of a dying or patchy display, is often the deciding factor.
You have a wide selection of options for custom artificial trees, including palm, aspen, fig, fir, oak, banyan, chestnut, olive, and smilax. You can also select from a range of styles, such as flowering, fruit-bearing, deciduous, coniferous, or evergreen trees.
The right species depends on the space. A hotel lobby or atrium can support a larger statement tree, such as a fig or palm, that adds scale and presence. A restaurant or retail floor often calls for something that defines a zone without crowding foot traffic, like a smaller ornamental or evergreen variety. An office reception area benefits from species that read as clean and low-key, so they complement the brand rather than compete with it.
If you don't know where to start or aren't sure which artificial tree would be suitable for your space, you can always contact a Greenscape design expert.
The type of tree trunk you choose can impact the amount you'll spend on an artificial commercial tree and can make a big difference in its overall aesthetic appeal. You can choose between a tree built from an organic wood trunk or a hand-fabricated synthetic trunk.
If you prefer to go for an artificial tree with a natural trunk, you have the option of picking from a variety of locally sourced tree varietals. Natural tree trunks have a variety of bark textures and colours and create a very realistic and natural appearance. Natural trunks designed particularly for use outdoors have an industrial-grade sealant added for protection against the elements.
Handcrafted synthetic trunks are entirely handmade with plenty of customizable options, and are suitable for both outdoor and indoor applications. These trunks are meticulously molded using concrete, epoxy, and resin materials to attain a wide variety of bark textures resembling the trunks of different live trees. Fabricated trunks are created using high-quality materials that enable fabricated trees to effectively endure inclement weather like snowstorms and frost.
Whether you choose fabric or plastic foliage depends on your decision to install artificial trees outdoors or indoors. For indoor artificial trees, it's recommended to choose fabric foliage. For outdoor artificial trees, plastic foliage impregnated with UV protectant is more suitable, since it's exposed to the elements such as sunlight and harsh weather.
For commercial properties, it's also worth asking about fire-retardant (IFR) rated foliage and confirming it meets local building code requirements, particularly for installations in lobbies, hallways, or other high-occupancy or high-traffic areas.
Artificially designed trees and plants find extensive applications in indoor and outdoor spaces such as malls, offices, hotels, restaurants, resorts, healthcare institutions, retail spaces, and public facilities. Faux trees for hotels and event venues hold up to heavier foot traffic and seasonal changeovers, while greenery-driven restaurant decor adds warmth and helps define the space without competing with the food.
Every commercial artificial tree Greenscape builds is designed and fabricated in-house, which means species, trunk type, foliage, size, and finish can all be adapted to a specific site, brand, and budget, including fire code and installation requirements that a catalogue product can't account for. Whether you're outfitting a single lobby or a multi-floor property, Greenscape's team works directly with designers, architects, and procurement teams from concept through installation, part of a broader permanent installation service that covers everything from initial design through delivery and setup.
No watering, pruning, or fertilizing is required. Occasional dusting or cleaning is typically all that's needed to keep an artificial commercial tree looking its best, which is significantly less upkeep than a live tree requires.
Yes. Species, trunk style, size, and foliage can all be built to match a specific space, brand palette, or design concept, which is one of the main advantages of a custom-fabricated tree over a live one.
Yes, product shipping for purchased artificial trees is available Canada-wide, though Greenscape's design and installation services are focused on British Columbia and Alberta.
If you don't know where to start or aren't sure which artificial tree would suit your space, a Greenscape design expert can help. Greenscape designs, fabricates, and installs custom artificial trees for hotels, offices, restaurants, retail, and healthcare spaces across BC and Alberta.
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