Artificial Plants for Interior Designers

What designers need from a planting supplier

Designers rarely buy planting on looks alone. A scheme needs dimensions to draw with, a pot size to match to a planter, stock that exists when the client signs off, and something to show the client before they do. Every line in our range carries height and width in centimetres, pot type and pot dimensions where supplied, colour, a barcode and a SKU. Product photography and descriptions are refreshed daily in the resource library for trade customers, and our trade catalogue is unpriced, so it can go straight into a client presentation.

Choosing statement trees

We hold 83 trees at 150cm and above, up to 260cm. At this scale, form matters as much as species:

• Narrow and upright: bamboo, twisted-trunk ficus and fiddle leaf fig suit corners, alcoves and either side of a doorway.
• Broad canopy: palms and large ficus fill atriums and double-height spaces.
• Sculptural: Japanese-style trees, triple-ball topiary and olives read as objects in their own right. The 180cm triple-ball fruticosa ficus in a gold planter is an example.
• Flowering: cherry blossom, wisteria and bougainvillea for hospitality and retail interiors, up to 180cm.

For really large spaces, the large trees by height finder groups the tallest lines. Allow clear space around a canopy of at least a third of the tree's height, and check the tree's total height once it sits in a planter, which can add 10 to 40cm.

Matching trees to planters

Most trees are supplied in a weighted plastic pot designed to sit inside a decorative planter. The pot dimensions are on each product page. Specify a planter whose inner opening is a few centimetres wider than the pot, and deep enough to hide the rim, then top-dress to finish. Our planters and vases run from small ceramic pots to large composite and metal planters, and the plant and planter fit finder pairs them. Some trees come already in a metal planter, such as the 150cm twisted-trunk fruticosa ficus in a copper planter.

Realism and viewing distance

Realism is a question of where the plant will be seen from. Trees viewed from across a lobby are judged on silhouette and colour; plants on a dining table or reception desk are judged at arm's length on leaf texture, veining, stems and how the plant sits in its pot. Spend on realism where people will touch or sit next to the planting, and on scale where they will see it from a distance. Our showroom in Louth is open to trade customers by appointment if you want to compare pieces side by side.

Contract requirements: fire and UV

Hospitality, office, healthcare and public projects often need fire-retardant planting in escape routes and public areas. Only lines flagged fire-retardant carry the tested material; they are listed in the fire-retardant finder.

Our fire-retardant lines are made from fully tested fire-retardant materials. Testing is carried out at material level to EN 13501-1 (reaction to fire, classification B-s2, d0) and NFPA 701, and the same tested material is used across the range's styles. Test reports are available to trade customers on request, and your venue's fire risk assessment decides what is acceptable in a given location. Only lines flagged fire-retardant carry this material. Whatever you specify, keep all planting clear of heaters, candles, cooking equipment and naked flames.

For terraces, roof gardens and planting behind large areas of glazing, specify UV-stabilised lines.

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, so plan to inspect exposed pieces each season and rotate or replace them when the colour drops.

From schedule to site

• Put SKUs, not just species names, on your schedule so the client order matches what you drew.
• Check live stock before issue and again before ordering. We do not reserve stock; if a project is phased, email us the SKUs and quantities.
• Larger orders travel on pallets. Give site delivery instructions and access details when ordering, as pallet redeliveries are chargeable.
• Hand over a care note to the client's facilities or housekeeping team. Our care and maintenance page can be shared as it is.

Register online, log in to see trade prices. The minimum order is £150 ex VAT and UK mainland delivery is free on orders of £300 ex VAT or more; full terms are on ordering and delivery. Register online to see trade prices, or email sales@leafdesignwholesale.co.uk to book a visit to our Louth trade showroom (by appointment).