Garden Centre Artificial Plant Range Planning
This page is for garden centre buyers and managers planning or refreshing an artificial plant department. The finder below opens on our outdoor range, the lines flagged UV-stabilised and suitable for outdoor use, because that is where garden centres most often start, and where the questions are hardest. Each line shows exact live stock so you can plan opening quantities and reorders.
- 66 lines
- Exact live stock
- Trade prices when logged in
- £150 ex VAT minimum
Register online, log in to see trade prices.
What customers come to a garden centre for
Garden centre customers buying artificial plants usually want one of three things: planting for a spot where living plants fail (a shady porch, a windy balcony, a front door they never water); a houseplant that will not die; or seasonal decoration. A good range answers each clearly, with signs that explain the difference between indoor and outdoor lines.
The outdoor range
Our outdoor range is built around 66 lines flagged UV-stabilised and outdoor-suitable, from 30cm to 180cm:
- Front-door topiary: buxus balls, cones and spirals, cypress, bay and triple-ball topiary, many sold as pairs, such as the 120cm UV-stabilised buxus spiral. See the topiary finder.
- Exotics: yuccas, traveller palms and other palms, such as the 90cm UV-stabilised yucca.
- Grasses and ferns: potted grasses and ferns for troughs and balconies, sold individually.
- Hanging: 15 trailing plants that are both UV-stabilised and fire-retardant, for baskets and porches.
There is no UV-stabilised olive, wisteria or flowering tree in our range at present, so keep those in the indoor department and sign them accordingly.
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.
Use this wording, or something close to it, on shelf signs. Customers who expect outdoor artificial plants to look new forever come back disappointed; customers told to expect gradual fade, and to wash and turn their plants, do not. Point customers to the UV-stabilised range page for more detail, and stock large planters alongside, because every outdoor tree needs weighting against wind.
The indoor range
Indoors, lead with lines that replace the houseplants customers struggle with: monstera, ficus, trailing plants, orchids, ferns and small desk plants. Add a tree section with a few floor-standing pieces at 120cm to 180cm, and a flower section of stems, vases and arrangements.
Seasonal timing
- Spring: front-door topiary, blossom and flowering plants; outdoor grasses for patios.
- Summer: balconies, hanging baskets, exotics and palms.
- Autumn: indoor trees and houseplant alternatives as customers move indoors; berry stems.
- Christmas: our Christmas range is small (8 lines), so order early and check live stock before planning a display around it.
Order seasonal stock ahead of the season, not as it starts. We do not publish restock dates, and live stock on a line can sell through.
Quantities, multibuy and depth
Every line is sold individually, and single stems, foliage and hanging lines earn 20% off when you take 6 or more mixed multibuy items. There is no per-line minimum, and the order minimum is £150 ex VAT, so a centre can test a line in small numbers before committing. Use the finder's stock filter to shortlist lines with 50 or 100 or more units for anything you plan to repeat across the season, and hold enough of your core front-door topiary to keep pairs together. Orders of £300 ex VAT or more ship free to UK mainland, and larger orders come on a pallet.
Merchandising
- Separate indoor and outdoor lines clearly, with signs explaining UV stabilisation.
- Show topiary and trees already in planters, and sell the planter alongside.
- Group by colour for flowers and by height for trees.
- Dust display stock weekly; dusty artificial plants look old.
Our unpriced trade catalogue and the product photography in the resource library help with in-store signage and your own website.
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).
Frequently asked questions
Which artificial plants can garden centres sell for outdoor use?
Sell only lines flagged UV-stabilised and outdoor-suitable for outside use. Ours include buxus, cypress, bay and triple-ball topiary, yuccas and palms, grasses, ferns and 15 hanging trailing plants. There is no UV-stabilised olive, wisteria or flowering tree in the range at present, so sign those as indoor lines.
What should we tell customers about fading outdoors?
UV-stabilised lines contain UV inhibitors that slow colour fade in bright and outdoor positions. All artificial foliage fades gradually in prolonged direct sun, but UV-stabilised stock fades far more slowly than untreated stock. We do not publish a lifespan, so advise customers to rinse plants occasionally and turn them so one side is not always facing the sun.
Is there a minimum quantity per line?
No. Every line is sold individually, including trees, potted plants, stems, grasses and small plants. The order minimum is £150 ex VAT across any mix of lines, so you can test new lines in small numbers alongside your core range.
When should a garden centre order seasonal artificial stock?
Ahead of the season rather than as it starts. Order spring topiary and blossom before spring, balcony and basket lines before summer, indoor trees before autumn, and Christmas lines early because that range is small. We do not reserve stock or publish restock dates, so check live stock on each line when you plan.
Can we use your product images for our own signs and website?
Trade customers can download product photography and descriptions from our resource library, updated daily, along with an hourly stock and price feed. The trade catalogue is unpriced, so it can be used with customers. Write your own shelf signage for outdoor lines using the UV wording on this page.
