To be totally honest, we’re not huge fans of fake plants for a classroom. If possible you should get real plants as they help purify the air and plastic eventually winds up in a landfill anyway.
Spider plants, succulents and jade plants can go a week or more without watering, so if neglect is the main reason you want to get plastic, then side with one of these easier to manage plants.
Now, if you’re certain fake plants are the way you want to go, then what are the best plants for your classroom? We’ll break down quickly the different sizes and prices points you can look to add a bit more greenery to your classroom.
Our top choices for artificial plants for your classroom
From small potted plants, to large corner of the room plants, to hanging plants as well as tabletop of desk plants. You have a lot of surprisingly good choices.
1. Crochet Artificial Sunflower – Perfect for young learners
This is a handmade, handcrafted even sunflower using crochet techniques. It’s resembles a sunflower but is made from yarn and cotton.
With a big smile designed into the petals, this sunflower design gives it a unique, artisanal quality and a cartoonish appearance.
Crochet Sunflower
Plain ole’ run of the mill potted plants. A classic choice for your desk and classroom.
Sunflowers represent positivity and warmth, which make this item an ideal, light hearted choice for a classroom or even as a teacher gift.
Pros:
- Beautiful, handmade design. It has an artisanal quality about it.
Cons:
- It’s small and cute, if you’re wanting a larger design this falls short.
2. Mini potted plants – Set of three
These are a set of small, artificial plants designed to bring a touch of greenery to indoor spaces like classrooms, homes, or offices without the need for watering or maintenance.
Mini Potted Plants
Plain ole’ run of the mill potted plants. A classic choice for your desk and classroom.
Their small size (10 inches tall), which means they can sit on a teacher’s desk, a bookshelf, or a corner table without crowding the room. You could even spread the three plants across different areas for a cohesive look.
Pros:
- They add a calming, natural element to a classroom.
- Unlike real plants, these won’t trigger allergies, attract bugs, or die if neglected. A plus in a kid-filled environment.
- Easy maintenance. Just wipe them with a damp cloth now and then to remove dust.
Cons:
- Out of the box, plastic factory smell. Fades away however so not a huge concern.
- Not durable and not water proof. Your kids may break them by accident.
3. Hanging Plants – Four types and styles
This is a set of four artificial hanging plants designed to add greenery to any indoor space, a classroom in our case. The pack includes a mix of 4 faux plant types: eucalyptus leaves, mandala leaves, string of pearls and pea pod leaves.
Hanging Plant Set
Four different types of hanging plants you can use to decorate.
For your classroom, they’d work well in a reading nook, on a teacher’s desk, a shelf, or dangling from a ceiling hook (if allowed, check with your admin).
They’re not as compact as the potted plants, but they do offer more visual impact with their hanging vines. Great overall if you want something low effort but noticeable.
Pros:
- Good price point and a nice variety of styles.
- Easy to maintain and place, lightweight as well.
Cons:
- Use a high shelf placement to keep them out of reach of younger students.
- The 22-inch and 30.1-inch lengths might be longer than expected, so plan accordingly.
4. Artificial Succulent Plants Potted – Could be mistaken for real
Made from high-quality ABS plastic, which is durable and molded to mimic the waxy, fleshy look of real succulents. The plastic is often flocked or painted for a lifelike finish.
Artificial Succulents
Four different types of hanging plants you can use to decorate.
The petite size (5-7 inches tall) makes them perfect for tight spaces like a teacher’s desk, a bookshelf, or a corner table. You can scatter the three pots around the room for a consistent green theme.
They arrive fully assembled. Just unpack, fluff the leaves if needed, and place them where you want. No potting or arranging required.
Pros:
- Line them up on a windowsill for a lovely display.
- Low cost an no maintenance
- Can still tie into lessons about plants, deserts, or ecosystems.
Cons:
- They’re quite small. If small is what you’re after then get these.
5. Oleek Succulents – Perfect for a teacher desk
You don’t need to add all three to your desk, but one is a nice added addition. You could also line up all three of these cute fake potted succulents in a row on a windowsill.
These stand out from other standard faux plants by adding in a fun, modern twist that could appeal to a classroom with a creative or youthful vibe.
Oleek Succulents
These fake succulents are a vibe. Perfect addition to a classroom.
Comes in three different collections as well to choose from. Overall these are playful and compact, ideal for a classroom aiming for a lighthearted or creative feel. They’d work great in an elementary setting, an art room, or a space where color and style is welcome.
Pros:
- Comes in three different sets, so you have a total of 9 different potted plant styles.
Cons:
- They are designed to be placed on the edge of a windowsill or desk, so one of these falling off and breaking is bound to happen.
- A bit larger than you may expect, the legs are also long too.
6. Artificial palm tree – 5 feet tall
This is a single artificial palm tree standing roughly 5 feet tall. It is designed to mimic a tropical areca palm. It comes pre-potted in a sleek, tall white planter, offering a complete floor plant solution for indoor decor.
You can choose from three different planter colors (white, black, grey) as well as choose a different size other than the five footer.
5ft Fake Palm Tree
Tuck this away in the corner for some much needed green.
At 5 feet tall, it’s big enough to make an impact from a design perspective and is ideal for filling a corner, flanking a whiteboard, or softening a doorway without cluttering desk space.
Pros:
- Adds a lot of visual appeal to whatever space you place it in.
- Comes in a few different sizes and colors.
Cons:
- There could be a tipping risk. This tall, narrow planter might be top-heavy if bumped. So place it ideally in a corner.
7. Artificial Dracaena Plant – A less tropical alternative
This is a lovely 5-foot tall artificial Dracaena plant designed for indoor use, perfect for a classroom reading corner. It’s a popular type of houseplant known for its long, slender, green leaves, and this product is intended to mimic the real thing (which it does quite well).
Faux Dracaena Plant
Same size as the palm tree, ideal if you want a less tropical alternative.
As an artificial plants you get the benefit of the aesthetic appeal of greenery for your classroom without the required maintenance for actual plants like watering and sunlight.
The pot is a nice neutral color, allowing it to blend into different settings or be swapped into a teachers preferred container.
Pros:
- Ideal for a reading corner due to it’s size. It has an impactful appearance.
- Cost effective, big plants like this take time and resources to maintain. Since this is a faux Dracaena, you’re all set right out of the box.
Cons:
- As a bigger plant, it will attract dust so you will need to wipe it down once a month or so with paper towl.
- No air purification. Dracaena’s are known for their ability to filter indoor pollutants.
8. Generic indoor plant – A standard, “fits all environments” fake plant
Just your run of the mill, generic fake plant. From JPSOR, a brand known for affordable fake plants, this is a Pothos plants. In their live form, they are vining plants with heart-shaped green leaves, often variegated, and are popular for their low-maintenance appeal.
JPSOR Fake Plant
Same size as the palm tree, ideal if you want a less tropical alternative.
This version mimics that look, with plastic leaves and stems, and comes pre-potted in a sleek black ceramic pot. The black ceramic black pot that comes with the plant adds a modern, understated touch that pairs well with various styles.
Pros:
- Realistic design.
- Comes with a minimalistic pot.
- It’s roughly 12-inches in size, not too big or small.
Cons:
- Some may tell it’s a fake plant when up close.
9. Large green succulents – Rustic design
Succulents are those cute, chunky plants that look like they’re storing water (think aloe or echeveria), but this one’s fake. Made from materials like plastic or EVA (a type of flexible plastic) to mimic the real thing.
AlphaAcc Artificial Plants
A nice selection of generic, fake indoor plants at a good price point.
This AlphaAcc fake succulent is a no-fuss way to bring some greenery into your classroom as a teacher. It’s not a real plant, but it’s not trying to be. It’s about looking good with zero work. Perfect if you want a vibe boost for a classroom, dorm, or home without the plant-parent stress.
Pros:
- Cool design with a nice rustic pot.
Cons:
- More designed for a home or office, but it made our list because of it’s unique look.
10. Bamboo Silk tree – A 5 Foot, minimalist design
This product is called a “silk tree” because the leaves are most likely made from silk or polyester to mimic a real bamboo’s vibrant green look.
Paired with multiple trunks of real bamboo, this faux bamboo plant leans into a Zen or Japanese-inspired aesthetic.
Bamboo Silk Tree
A nice selection of generic, fake indoor plants at a good price point.
If you want a low-maintenance, Japanese-inspired decor piece for your classroom, art class etc that also looks real without the fuss then this is a good option. Real bamboo, fake leaves crafted to look life like.
Pros:
- No maintenance.
- Unique design of real bamboo and synthetic leaves.
Cons:
- While it’s a unique design, it may not fit all classroom layouts.
11. Artificial Bonsai Tree – Beautiful faux Japanese plant
Bonsai are those small, artfully shaped trees symbolizing patience and nature in Japanese culture. This tree is made from materials like plastic or silk to mimic that aesthetic without the required upkeep.
Fake Bonsai Tree
A nice selection of generic, fake indoor plants at a good price point.
It’s small and stylish. A perfect fit really anywhere from your desk to the top of a bookshelf, with no care needed beyond a quick dusting every month or so.
Pros:
- It’s a stylish bonsai tree! If you’re looking for something more unique, this is it.
Cons:
- Like the bamboo plant, this may not fit the aesthetics of certain classrooms.
12. Crochet flowers – Beautiful design, bright and colorful.
Want a wide variety of lovely crochet flowers? Crafted to resemble a real plant but with more of a stylish light hearted approach.
It’s a decorative item that can bring a bit of nature’s cheer and brightness into a classroom. Perfect for a teachers desk, shelf, or windowsill.
Crochet Flowers
A lovely handmade decoration that’s perfect for your desk.
Comes in a wide array of designs from genus myosotis pink, to a sunflower or perhaps a set of purple flowers is what you’re after?
Pros:
- Nice artistic design.
- A wide range of options to choose from.
Cons:
- All the sizes are a bit small at around 12 inches.
13. Pink Mini Succulents – Lovely set for desks and windows
Simply put, these are small succulents that come in a few different colors. Our favorite being pink.
These are set of three, so it would be best to line them up as a display.
Crochet Flowers
A lovely handmade decoration that’s perfect for your desk.
They’re marketed for a home spaces like your living room or bathroom, but they’re perfectly fine for a classroom environment. These come potted in small (pink, white or black, depending on what you pick) decorative containers, ready to place anywhere you want a touch of color and design..
Pros:
- Durable, these are made of high quality material and could survive a fall.
- Great choice for a teachers classroom desk.
Cons:
- They have a specific aesthetic which may not fit all classrooms.
Why no cactuses?
We like cactuses as much as the next person, but something that is sharp and pointy is not a good idea to have around a bunch of k-6 students.
If your students are older, then by all means there are a wide range of fake desert plants you can source beyond the very common succulent.
Fake plants for the classroom – conclusion
That’s it for our short breakdown of some of our favorite faux plants for a classroom environment. From desk decorations, to hanging plants, reading nook plants to fake plant decoration for a windowsill.
You should by now have a good idea of what your options are. Just make sure to always check the dimensions of the space you want to place a fake plant as well as the size of the fake plant in question.
Some of these plants (like the succulents from Oleek) are surprisingly bigger than expected.
