Commercial Artificial Plant Specification

What a good specification covers

A workable specification for artificial greenery answers the same questions as any other furnishing schedule. Set these out before you choose products, and the shortlist becomes much shorter.

Question	What to decide	Where to check
Where does each plant go?	Floor, tabletop, shelf, hanging or outdoor position	Site plan and photos
How big?	Overall height and spread against ceiling height and circulation space	Plants by height
Which look?	Leaf type, colour and density to suit the interior	Product photos, showroom visit
Fire or UV requirement?	Whether the location calls for fire-retardant or UV-stabilised lines	Your fire risk assessment and site exposure
Which planter?	Finish, size and stability	Plant and planter fit finder
How many, and when?	Quantities per phase and delivery dates	Live stock in each finder

Sizing the scheme

Scale is where most schemes go wrong. Tall trees make the biggest difference in lobbies, atriums and open-plan floors, while tabletop plants and flowers carry reception desks, meeting rooms and bedrooms. Our tree range runs to 309 lines, 40 of them at 180cm or taller, up to 260cm; the large trees by height finder filters them by height band. As a rule of thumb, leave at least 30cm to 50cm between the top of a tree and the ceiling, and allow for planter height and any legs or stands, which add to the overall display height.

Each product lists height, width and depth in centimetres. Width matters as much as height in corridors and beside doors: check the spread against clear walkway widths and sightlines, and keep foliage clear of signage, sprinkler heads and emergency lighting.

Checking realism

Realism comes from the details, not from adjectives on a spec sheet. When comparing lines, look at leaf layering and variation in leaf size, whether the colour varies naturally across the plant, how the trunk or stems are finished (some trees have natural trunks), and how the plant sits in its pot. The artificial tree finder and ficus comparison make side-by-side checks easier. For a large project, order a sample of the key lines first, or book an appointment at our Louth trade showroom to see them in person.

Fire-retardant lines

Some locations, such as escape routes, hotel public areas and healthcare settings, may call for fire-retardant greenery. 36 of our lines carry the fire-retardant flag: trees, bushes, stems and garland, plus hanging trailing plants. 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 flagged lines are fire-retardant; do not substitute an unflagged product in a location that needs one. Fire-retardant is not the same as fire resistant in the building-products sense, so describe these lines as fire-retardant in your specification. Whatever the product, keep all plants clear of heaters, candles, cooking equipment and naked flames. Compare the range on fire-retardant artificial plants, and for lines that are both fire-retardant and UV-stabilised see fire-retardant and UV-stabilised plants.

Outdoor and bright positions

For entrances, terraces, courtyards and sunny glazed areas, specify UV-stabilised lines; 67 of our lines carry that flag. 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. Outdoor schemes also need planters that are heavy or ballasted enough for wind, and a routine for removing leaves and dirt. See UV-stabilised and outdoor plants and commercial outdoor planting.

Planters, stability and fixing

Most of our potted plants and trees come in a weighted plastic pot, commonly 16cm or 18cm wide, designed to sit inside a decorative planter. Specify the planter by its inner opening and depth, not just its outside size, and choose a planter height of roughly a quarter to a third of the overall display for floor trees. In busy public spaces, add ballast around the pot inside the planter so tall trees cannot be knocked over. Compare finishes on the planter finder.

Quantities, stock and phased projects

Every finder shows the exact live stock for each line, and you can filter to lines with at least 25, 50 or 100 units. That matters for multi-room or multi-site schemes, where running out of one line halfway through a rollout forces a substitution. Stock is not reserved until you order, lines do sell out, and suppliers occasionally change a product. Before a reorder, check the live stock and SKU, and for multi-phase projects talk to us about continuity before you commit.

Plan quantities in the right units. Every plant, tree, planter, flower stem and foliage stem is sold individually, and 6 or more multibuy lines, mixed and matched, earn 20% off automatically.

Maintenance

Artificial plants need no water or light, but they do need dusting. Build a simple routine into the facilities or housekeeping schedule: a soft brush or cool air for most foliage, a barely damp cloth for glossy leaves, and a check for knocked or bent stems. The care and maintenance page covers cleaning methods in detail.

Information we can supply

• Product data for every line: height, width and depth, colour, pot type and pot dimensions where available, fire-retardant and UV flags, barcode and SKU.
• Fire test reports for fire-retardant lines, available to trade customers on request.
• Product photography and a stock and price feed through the resource library.
• A free trade catalogue, digital or printed on request.

Ordering for a project

All prices are shown ex VAT to logged-in trade customers, with VAT added at checkout and a VAT invoice supplied. Orders are paid up front (proforma) by card, bank transfer, PayPal or card payment by phone; there are no credit terms on this site. The minimum order is £150 ex VAT. Orders are dispatched within one working day of cleared funds, and large orders are generally palletised. Full details, including delivery charges and remote-area surcharges, are on ordering and delivery. For project questions, contact us.

Register online, log in to see trade prices. The minimum order is £150 ex VAT across your whole basket, and delivery terms are on ordering and delivery. To see lines in person, our Louth trade showroom is open to trade customers by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get fire test reports for a specification pack?

Yes. Test reports for our fire-retardant material are available to trade customers on request. Testing is carried out at material level to EN 13501-1 (classification B-s2, d0) and NFPA 701, and the same tested material is used across the range's styles. Only lines carrying our fire-retardant flag are covered, and your venue's fire risk assessment decides what is acceptable in each location.

How do I make sure there is enough stock for a multi-site rollout?

Use the minimum-stock filters on each finder to shortlist lines with at least 50 or 100 units, and check the live figure against your total quantity before ordering. Stock is not reserved until an order is placed and paid, and lines can sell out or change. For phased projects, contact us before you commit so we can talk through continuity and alternatives.

Can I see products before specifying them?

Our trade showroom in Louth, Lincolnshire, is open to trade customers by appointment; email sales@leafdesignwholesale.co.uk to arrange a visit. Otherwise, the simplest route is to order samples of your key lines on a normal trade order, subject to the £150 ex VAT minimum. Every product page also shows height, width, depth, colour and pot details alongside the photos.

Are your plants suitable for outdoor projects?

Only lines flagged UV-stabilised should be specified for outdoor or very bright positions. They contain UV inhibitors that slow colour fade; all artificial foliage fades gradually in prolonged direct sun, but treated stock fades far more slowly than untreated stock. We do not publish a lifespan. Outdoor schemes also need heavy or ballasted planters and a routine for clearing leaves and dirt.

Do you offer credit terms for project orders?

No. All orders on this site are paid up front on a proforma basis, by card, bank transfer, PayPal or card payment by phone. Orders are dispatched within one working day of cleared funds. Credit terms may be available through Faire Direct instead. Prices are shown ex VAT, VAT is added at checkout, and a VAT invoice is supplied with every order.

What product information can I include in a schedule?

Every product lists height, width and depth in centimetres, colour, SKU and barcode, plus fire-retardant and UV-stabilised flags where relevant. Pot type and pot dimensions are listed for most potted lines. Registered trade customers can also use the resource library for product photography and descriptions and a stock and price feed, which helps keep schedules and quotes up to date.