Outdoor & UV-Resistant Artificial Plants: The Complete Trade Guide
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Our outdoor range is the 67 lines flagged UV-stabilised, 66 of which are also flagged outdoor-suitable: mostly topiary, cypress and buxus pairs, with yuccas, palms, grasses, a handful of leafy trees and fifteen hanging trailing plants. This guide explains what is in that range, which type suits which position, and how to pot, ballast and hand over an outdoor scheme so the client knows what to expect.
If you already know the brief, filter every UV-stabilised and outdoor line by type, height and live stock in our UV-stabilised and outdoor plant finder.
What counts as an outdoor artificial plant on our site
Two flags on each product page do the work. UV resistant means the foliage is made with UV inhibitors; outdoor suitable means we list the line for exterior positions. On our catalogue the two sets are almost identical: every outdoor-suitable line is also UV-flagged, and only one UV-flagged cypress tree is not listed as outdoor-suitable. If a line carries neither flag, treat it as an interior product, however robust it looks in a photograph.
Our standard description of what the flag means is short: UV-stabilised lines contain UV inhibitors that slow colour fade in bright and outdoor positions. All artificial foliage fades gradually in prolonged direct sun; UV-stabilised stock fades far more slowly than untreated stock. We don't publish a lifespan. The chemistry, the difference between glazing and open sky, and what evidence to ask any supplier for are covered in our guide What UV Resistance Really Means for Artificial Plants, published in October.
Three categories buyers often ask about are not flagged for outdoor use: our olive trees, our wisteria and our orchids. None of them carries the UV flag. For olive-style Mediterranean planting outdoors, the closest flagged alternatives are the bay laurel topiary and the cypress lines below; for flowering colour, see the flower bushes. Wisteria placement is covered in our guide to specifying artificial wisteria indoors and under cover.
What is in our outdoor range
The table groups the 67 UV-flagged lines by type, using the heights and pot sizes from the catalogue. Every line is sold individually. Stock moves daily, so check the finder or the product page before you quote a scheme.
| Type | Lines | Heights | Typical pot supplied | Sold as | Best outdoor use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topiary: buxus, boxwood, cypress, bay, gloxinia (12 sold as pairs) | 29 | 60–150cm | Plastic weighted pot, 13cm to 18cm across | 1 | Entrances, symmetrical doorways, terrace edges |
| Hanging trailing plants (also fire-retardant) | 15 | 68–128cm drop | Bare stem, no pot | 1 | Pergolas, canopies, balcony rails, baskets |
| Palms and traveller banana | 6 | 120–180cm | 17cm to 22cm plastic weighted pot | 1 | Poolside, beach bars, sheltered courtyards |
| Yucca | 5 | 90–155cm | 14cm to 19cm plastic weighted pot | 1 | Shopfronts, contemporary terraces |
| Leafy trees and bamboo (ruscus, mango leaf, Japanese ficus, aralia, bamboo) | 5 | 120–180cm | 12cm to 18cm plastic weighted pot | 1 | Screening, courtyard corners |
| Grasses and ferns | 5 | 90–130cm | 12cm to 18cm pots, one bare stem | 6 | Troughs, planter fillers, soft screening |
| Flower bushes (red, white) | 2 | 30cm | Bare stem | 6 | Colour in window boxes and troughs |
Two things stand out. Topiary is almost half the range, so most outdoor schemes we supply are built around structured shapes rather than loose foliage. And the grasses, ferns and flower bushes are sold individually, which suits trough planting because you can order the exact count each run needs.
Topiary and pairs for entrances
A matched pair either side of a door is a staple outdoor brief for hotels, restaurants and shops, and a large share of the range is built for it. The 120cm spiral buxus topiary is 40cm wide in an 18cm weighted pot; the 120cm buxus ball-cone tree is 45cm wide on the same pot. Lines with "pair" in the title, such as the 120cm bay laurel topiary pair, are listed as a pair; check the product page for how the listing is priced before you build a quote.
Worked example: a hotel entrance. For a standard double door about 1.8m wide, two 120cm spirals set 20cm outside each door frame read clearly from the street without narrowing the threshold. If the entrance has a canopy, the 150cm triple-ball topiary gives more height under the soffit. For a longer frontage, repeat the pair at each window bay rather than running a continuous line, which is easier to keep tidy and cheaper to refresh.
Worked example: terrace edge screening. The 90cm cedar cypress topiary is 25cm wide. Set at 33cm centres, that is three trees per metre of screen; a 6m terrace edge needs 18 trees, or nine of the 90cm cedar cypress pairs. At 60cm the same cypress suits window boxes and low troughs. Shapes, pairing and symmetry are covered in depth in our planned topiary guides, and you can compare every topiary and bay line side by side in the topiary and bay tree finder.
Palms, yuccas and grasses for terraces
For a resort, pool or beach-bar look, the 150cm UV traveller banana palm (70cm spread) and the 125cm UV areca palm (100cm spread) are the two workhorses. Their spread matters more than their height outside: a 100cm areca next to a 70cm-wide café table leaves little room for chairs, so plan palms into corners and against walls rather than between covers. The palm finder shows which palm lines are UV-flagged and which are interior only.
Yuccas give a sharper, more architectural outline that suits contemporary shopfronts. The 120cm UV yucca tree is 70cm wide on an 18cm pot; the 90cm UV yukka plant works as a lower companion in front of it or on its own in narrower spaces.
Grasses soften hard landscaping and fill troughs. The 90cm UV grass plant is 40cm wide in a 12cm pot and is sold individually, so a 1.2m trough typically takes six planted in a staggered double row. For taller screening in a covered courtyard, the 140cm UV ruscus tree gives a denser leaf than the grasses.
Hanging and trailing lines outdoors
All fifteen hanging trailing plants in the outdoor range are supplied as bare stems with drops from 68cm to 128cm, so they are designed to be dressed into your own baskets, rail planters or pergola fixings. The 128cm clustered fern is the longest drop and the one to use on high pergolas; the 70cm to 85cm pothos, thyme and pearl-string lines suit balcony rails and window boxes where a long trail would catch on doors.
These lines are also the only part of the outdoor range flagged fire-retardant. They are made from fully tested fire-retardant materials, with test reports available to trade customers on request, and the venue's fire risk assessment decides what is acceptable. As with any artificial plant, keep them clear of heaters, candles, patio burners, cooking equipment and naked flames. The full picture sits on our fire-retardant and UV-stabilised plant page.
Planters, ballast and wind
Every potted line in the outdoor range arrives in a plastic weighted pot, typically 12cm to 22cm across. That pot keeps a tree upright on a still floor; it is not enough to hold a 120cm topiary or a 150cm palm in a gust on an open terrace. Treat the supplied pot as an insert, not the finished installation.
- Choose a heavier outer planter. The outer planter should be at least as wide as the tree's spread at the base and deep enough to hide the weighted pot. For an 18cm pot, an outer planter with an opening of 25cm or more gives room to pack ballast around it.
- Ballast low. Fill the base with sealed bags of sand or gravel, sit the weighted pot on top, and pack the gap with more ballast before dressing with decorative stones or moss. Weight at the bottom resists tipping far better than weight at the rim.
- Keep water out of the base. Use an outer planter with drainage, or raise the insert on a layer of gravel so rain does not pool around the trunk.
- Fix on exposed sites. On rooftops, coastal frontages and wind tunnels between buildings, tie tall trees back to a wall eye or rail, or use a planter that can be bolted down.
Our planters are not flagged for outdoor use, so we don't describe them as frost-resistant. The fibreglass composite pieces in our large planters collection are a good match for covered terraces and entrances under a canopy; for fully exposed positions, use an outer planter your installer has specified for exterior use. You can match plant and pot sizes quickly with the plant and planter fit finder.
Choosing by exposure and setting expectations on fade
Every outdoor position falls into one of three bands, and the band decides both what you specify and what you tell the client.
- Covered and bright: canopies, verandas, glazed walkways, porches. Any UV-flagged line works; fade is slowest here. This is the best home for the flower bushes and hanging lines.
- Part sun: courtyards and terraces that get direct sun for part of the day. Favour greens over bright colours, because gradual fade is far less visible in mid-greens than in reds and whites.
- Full, all-day sun: south-facing frontages, rooftops, open poolsides. Still specify UV-stabilised lines, and agree an inspection and refresh plan at the point of sale.
Put the expectation in writing when you quote: UV-stabilised stock fades far more slowly than untreated stock, but all artificial foliage fades gradually in prolonged direct sun, and we don't publish a lifespan. Clients who hear that at the start treat a refresh as planned maintenance, not a fault. The factors that decide how long a scheme stays presentable, and a simple inspection routine, are covered in our November guide How Long Do Outdoor Artificial Plants Last? What Decides It. Project workflow for terraces and courtyards, including drainage and fixing detail, follows in our guide to specifying outdoor artificial plants for terraces and courtyards.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an interior line outside if it is under a canopy?
We don't recommend it. A canopy cuts rain but not reflected light, and an unflagged line has no UV inhibitors. Choose a UV-flagged equivalent: most interior shapes buyers want outdoors, such as buxus balls, cypress, bay and palms, exist in the outdoor range.
Do you have a UV-stabilised olive tree?
No. None of our olive trees is flagged UV-stabilised or outdoor-suitable. For a Mediterranean feel outdoors, the bay laurel topiary pair and the cedar cypress lines are the closest flagged options.
Which colours hold up best outdoors?
Almost the whole outdoor range is green, which is the most forgiving colour in sun because gradual fade is least noticeable in mid-greens. The two 30cm flower bushes add red or white; place them in the brightest covered spots rather than full sun, and plan to refresh them sooner than the greenery.
Can I mix outdoor lines with planters from another supplier?
Yes. The weighted pots are designed to drop into an outer planter, so any exterior planter with enough width for ballast will work. Check the pot dimensions on each product page before ordering outer planters.
How do outdoor orders ship?
The same as any other order: dispatch within one working day of cleared funds, free UK mainland delivery on orders of £300 ex VAT or more (£14.99 below that), and larger orders are generally palletised. Minimum order is £150 ex VAT. Full details are on our ordering and delivery page.
Next steps: the finder, the collections and the detailed guides
Start in the UV-stabilised and outdoor plant finder, which lists every flagged line with height, type and live stock, or browse the UV-resistant collection and the wider outdoor trees and plants collection. For project-led planning, the commercial outdoor planting page groups lines by setting.
For more detail by topic: what the UV flag does and does not promise (What UV Resistance Really Means, October), the quick yes-or-no answer for clients (Can Artificial Plants Be Used Outdoors?, November), and fade and refresh planning (How Long Do Outdoor Artificial Plants Last?, November). For fire evidence on indoor and covered schemes, read our guide to fire-rated artificial plants for commercial buyers.
Register online, log in to see trade prices. Register here, or book an appointment at our Louth trade showroom to see the topiary and palms in person.
