Succulent plants are well-liked for their adaptability and resilience, especially in hot and dry weather. Yet, between their sun, soil, and other needs, some species might struggle to thrive. Despite how hardy these plants tend to be, problems can occur if they don’t have a suitable indoor growing environment or are not in the right hardiness zone.
If you want to enjoy the beauty of succulents without the pressure of keeping them alive, artificial succulents may be the perfect solution. Fans of artificial succulent plants keep them because they require absolutely zero maintenance, they don’t attract any pests, and you can place them anywhere you want. Fake succulents stay beautiful all year long, and some look exactly like the real thing.
So, if you love the look and aesthetic of succulents but don’t have the time to care for live plants, here are 15 fake succulents that are literally impossible to kill. Any of the succulents on this list can help you achieve an effortlessly cool desert aesthetic, especially when arranged among other plants.
1. Echeveria
Echeveria is part of a large family of succulents famous for their fleshy, colorful rosettes and rare hybrid species. This well-loved succulent has thick leaves that sometimes show off striking coloration, variegated leaf patterns, and other unique physical features that make them a joy to have around. Unlike live plants, fake echeveria succulents will never lose their vivid coloration and thick, fleshy appearance. Plus, fake Echeveria succulents tend to look incredibly realistic!
2. String of Pearls
The string of pearls is one of the most enchanting and unique-looking succulents around. However, they’re also notoriously difficult to establish! As beautiful as their delicate, spherical, pea-shaped leaves are, they’re also known to fall off with even the slightest bump or shake. So, if you love the look of the String of Pearls succulent but don’t have the time or the green thumb to grow them, it may be better to go with a faux arrangement instead.
3. Agave
The agave plant is a slow-growing succulent species that grows in both arid and tropical regions in North and South America. This powdery blue-green desert plant has long speared leaves with spiked edges. Its appearance creates a strong and inviting focal point for any indoor or outdoor space.
Although this vibrant plant can do well as a houseplant, it may require more sun, warmth, care, and time than you have to spare. The best thing about choosing a fake agave plant is that they come in different colors, sizes, and patterns – so you’re likely to have a wide variety of faux agave to choose from to better customize your space!
4. Jade
Jade plants are one of the most popular houseplants adorning homes today. They’re well-loved for their lush, green, oval-shaped leaves, manageable size, and easy care requirements. Jade plants seem to add a warm and inviting atmosphere to any room—However, fake ones can look just as lush! In fact, artificial jade is almost indistinguishable from real plants in both color and texture. Faux Jade looks lovely as a standalone houseplant, or in an arrangement with other fake succulent plants.
5. Ladyfingers Succulent
The Ladyfingers plant is a striking succulent characterized by its unique tube-shaped leaves that resemble the long tapered fingers of a woman. This plant is coveted among plant collectors for its color-changing abilities when exposed to different temperatures as well as its unusual appearance. As a live plant, Ladyfingers can be difficult to please as it doesn’t enjoy the shade and needs full sunlight to thrive. For this reason, this unique and interesting plant may be better kept as a fake succulent.
6. Pencil Cactus
The pencil cactus is a succulent that gets its name from its cylindrical branches which are roughly the same size and thickness as a pencil. This extraordinary plant displays dozens of green pencil-like stems that transition from green into bright shades of orange and red near the top, giving it the appearance of being on fire. If you like plants that can bring a unique and earthy desert aesthetic to any room, a faux pencil cactus may be the perfect fake succulent for you.
7. Stonecrop
Sedum stonecrop is a wide-ranging variety of ground-sprawling succulents that grow in hot, dry areas where other plants can’t typically thrive. Popular varieties of Sedum stonecrop include white stonecrop and moss stonecrop, but there are many more.
Using fake sedums is a fantastic way to add interesting texture to ground cover – and cool carpet features to planters, terrariums, and rock gardens. They also look great among other fake succulents when joined in an artistic arrangement.
8. Pachyphytum
Pachyphytum is a flowering succulent that almost looks a bit like Echeveria. Pachyphytum succulents feature thick, juicy clumps of stemmed rosettes with a farina powder coating that gives them an attractive matte appearance.
Live plants can turn shades of purple, green, or orange during certain times of the year, but keeping fake Pachyphytum succulents allows you to capture their color-changing beauty all year long without extra plant care or maintenance.
9. Cactus
Did you know that all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti? Despite their spiky and sometimes threatening appearance, many cacti can make great succulent houseplants. Choosing a faux cactus over a real one has many advantages. There are no dangerous thorns to watch out for and they require even less attention and care than real cacti do. Best of all, artificial cacti come in many shapes, sizes, and varieties so you’ll have more options to choose from to match your decor. Artificial cactus plants lend an artistic touch of desert greenery to any space.
10. Hens and chicks
Hens and chicks is a popular succulent that gets its name from its ability to self-propagate with tiny offshoots of miniature plants, or “pups”. Live hens and chicks can spread out to create beautiful mats of multi-layered succulents that look nice with other plants. Still, if you want the greenery of Hens and Chicks without the hassle of keeping up with plant care, faux hens and chicks succulents are a winning choice. Fake Hens and chicks are perfect for a no-maintenance succulent houseplant — Plus, you can arrange them to your preference rather than rely on organic growth.
11. String of Hearts
The String of Hearts succulent is one of the most popular “string of…” varieties in the Senecio genus of flowering plants. This unique and attractive succulent is known for its heart-shaped leaves on trailing vines. Although they’re said to be relatively easy to care for, they can also be prone to leaf fall or struggle to acclimate in some regions.
They’re commonly displayed in hanging planters, baskets, and even draped over bookcases, shelves, and window sills – But they look great as a standalone houseplant or among other succulents, too. Decorating with artificial String of Hearts succulents is an easy, maintenance-free way to welcome the unique look of heart-shaped plants into your home all year long.
12. Snake plant
The snake plant is one of the most popular and familiar-looking succulent houseplants. They usually have showy green and yellow striped leaves with pastel-yellow border margins. Its stiff, variegated, sword-like leaves usually grow to be around two or three feet tall indoors and can be prone to pests and fungi issues. Keeping a fake snake plant is easier than having a live one. Plus, this popular plant is an inviting and familiar addition to any room and complements all styles of decor.
13. Aloe vera
Aloe is well-known for being an effective treatment for sunburns and other skin irritations — but it’s also a beautifully soothing green plant to keep in your home!
Aloe vera is a popular live succulent plant, but artificial aloe plants can look and feel almost as realistic as the real thing. Faux Aloe can add a dose of natural greenery to homes, offices, weddings, and more!
14. Zebra plant
Zebra plant succulents are known for having bold, horizontal stripes running across thick, dark-green leaves. These succulents are incredibly popular among plant enthusiasts for their wild, tropical appearance and easy care requirements.
However, artificial zebra plants are also gaining in popularity for their consistently healthy and life-like appearance. Faux zebra plants can look and feel almost exactly like real ones — making this a perfect faux succulent plant to effortlessly add an element of interest to any space.
15. Aeonium
Aeonium succulents are a genus of flowering plants characterized by having rosettes of thick, flat, shiny leaves. In their natural state, they can grow anywhere from a few inches to several feet wide. While echeveria and aeoniums both have a rose-like appearance, their leaves grow differently and they have different care requirements which can make aeonium a bit harder to care for.
So, if you want to welcome aeoniums in your home, but don’t have the time to care for live plants, faux aeoniums are a great choice. Plus, these realistic-looking fake plants are usually available in a variety of shapes, colors, and textures that can instantly boost the vibe of any space.
