FAQs
Wondering about tree weights, securing exterior trees, or selecting between fabricated, preserved, or replica trees?
Find these answers and more in our FAQ section! If you have an inquiry that isn’t listed on this page,contact us for further assistance.
General Questions
Our products can be custom-designed to match your exact specifications, allowing you to determine the design and look of each piece. We offer a range of commercial-grade faux trees and plants that are ideal for any application.
Our products are all custom-made, so they cannot be ordered off our website at this time. Information about the majority of our products is available online, and a representative can assist you via phone or email if you would like more details. To learn more, schedule a consultation, or place an order, please contact us.
The ability to clean artificial trees and plants is a real advantage that many clients appreciate now more than ever. Organic sanitizing and disinfecting products can be used regularly, along with more advanced options like electrostatic sprayers. Please speak with our team to confirm if a particular product can withstand the type of cleaning you have implemented.
The vast majority of our products require no cleaning beyond regular dusting. The frequency depends on where your trees and plants are installed; however, we generally recommend cleaning every 3-4 months. This may vary depending on the amount of dust or air circulation in the area. More frequent cleaning makes the process easier. Please contact us for details on organic cleaning products that will not damage products.
Standard foliation can be used for budgetary reasons or when a tree is going into a corner or dark area. It’s also ideal if you want an airy look or if you have a group of trees and the foliage density feeds off of the other trees. Commercial foliation is for a tree that stands alone or is up against a window or high light. This can backlight every leaf, making the tree look sparse if not fully foliated.
Our trees and larger plants can be designed with integrated usage, including anything from lighting and speakers to security cameras and monitors. Smart Trees™ can host radio equipment, LED lighting, and other types of computer equipment.
Another popular choice is misting systems concealed within exterior trees. Our trees are frequently used as support to hold signage, awnings, and hammocks. We also design fabricated log furniture and fun custom treehouses for schools, libraries, and playgrounds. We can even add secret compartments or dispensers for your favorite beverages!
Fabricated Trees & Plants
Our in-house artisans have traveled the world, collecting molds from real trees and plants. These are used to shape our creations and create amazingly detailed and realistic products.
Fabricated Products by Plantworks are customized works of art. They are engineered from the ground up to ensure safety and weight load, as well as wind shear for exterior products. Because our products are built with material that is more durable and lighter weight than concrete (often used by other fabricators), they are the perfect solution for weight-load-restricted areas.
Fabricated Products from Plantworks are custom-created to meet exact specifications, including height, canopy shape, foliage, and bark. These products do not require water, sunlight, soil and soil treatment, pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizer. They will never brown, wither, or die. They’re also made to withstand the elements, so they can safely remain in areas with wind and sun exposure for years and years.
Our fully customized Fabricated Products are completely unique and can be crafted to match whatever specs, look, or style you would like.
Foliage Density
- Open and Lacey: Our lightest density option is ideal for areas where light penetration and sight lines need to remain open.
- Designer Select: Our most popular foliage option, offering medium density and a balance of light and visibility.
- Signature Series: Our most dense foliage option, most often used for trees and plants that divide space, provide privacy, or block out light.
Foliage Shape
- Canopy Style: A traditional tree shape with standard-size trunks and large, overarching branches and foliage
- Columnar Style: A narrow, even shape that’s perfect for tight spaces or corners.
- Vase Style: A shape option between Canopy and Columnar, offering a standard trunk and foliage that flares outward at the top.
- Seeking another shape? Let us know! Our custom creations can be easily adjusted to match your specifications.
Foliage Type
Plantworks has several exclusive foliage options for commercial and residential needs. Most Fabricated Trees and Plants are made with either:
- UltraLeaf-IFR®: Inherently Fire Retardant (“IFR”) artificial foliage that is tested and approved for indoor commercial use. Learn More About UltraLeaf-IFR® Foliage (link to IFR info page)
- UltraLeaf-X®: UltraViolet Inhibiting (“UVI”) artificial exterior foliage that resists fading and sun damage. Learn More About UltraLeaf-X® Foliage (link to UVI info page)
Size
All of our products are custom-built to meet the client’s size specifications. If a tree is specified for over 24 feet in overall height, we usually recommend our Fabricated Product line, where there are no diameter, shape, width, or height limitations.
Exterior tree trunks are good for 15 years and longer, but the fronds and foliage may need to be replaced every 6-8 years. We offer full replacement foliage and fronds or custom additions as needed.
The life of exterior products will vary greatly depending on the amount of sun, wind, and exposure to the elements they get. Consider factors such as salt spray from the ocean or sandblasted from wind storms in the desert areas. Exterior flowering material is more fragile and can last between 3-5 years, with exposure to the elements being a mitigating factor.
Replica vs. Fabricated Trees & Plants
Although both can have fabric leaves, Fabricated Trees and Plants have trunks and branches manufactured from manmade materials. Replica Trees have natural wood trunks grown by Mother Nature herself.
Fabricated products are also designed to withstand the elements and have weather-coated or non-fabric foliage and trunks.
At Plantworks, we choose to call our plants Replicas rather than “silk” because fabric plants have not typically been made of silk fabrics for many years. The majority are currently made from mainly polyester fabrics, and many have polyurethane coatings.
We call them Replicas, as the term replicated represents products that duplicate, copy, or reproduce something from nature. People still refer to all artificial products as silk plants, silk flowers, and silk trees, even though they are rarely constructed of actual silk.
Fabricated products are designed to withstand the elements and have weather-coated or non-fabric foliage and trunks.
Replica foliage is made for interior use only and is not as waterproof or UV-resistant as Exterior material. Replica foliage is usually Inherently Fire Retardant, whereas Exterior foliage is not. Most Exterior materials can be obtained Inherently Fire Retardant, though, if sufficient quantity warrants a custom batch of the material. Exterior foliage is designed for outdoor use but could be used indoors if desired and would be especially beneficial in areas with intense sun.
Preserved Trees and Plants
Our Preservation Team gathers fresh palm tree fronds and bark, juniper and boxwood foliage, and various grasses. They are immediately brought to our Preservation Manufacturing Facility, where they are immersed in our proprietary preservation solution.
The fronds, foliage, and grasses draw up the solution, replacing the water in their cells with our fully organic, non-toxic, and inherently fire-retardant preservative. Although the ingredients in the preservation solution are proprietary, they include a humectant to keep the leaves soft, a fire retardant for safety, and dyes to keep the leaves green.
It takes approximately two weeks to completely preserve most of our trees and plants. During this time, the preservation solution “immortalizes” the plant matter while maintaining its life-like appearance and feel. Most products are dried for at least 60 days before they are used.
The end result is an “immortalized” preserved palm tree, hedge, topiary, or grass plant that will retain its natural color, texture, and structural integrity for years to come. If you’re shopping the preserved tree/palm tree market, you’re in the right place here at Plantworks.
Plantworks’ preserved plants, palm fronds, and palm tree bark-encased tree trunks are made with recycled plant material. They are so resource-efficient that they qualify for up to 90% of their purchase price in LEED credits!
We have a thorough process to ensure that our products are high quality, durable, and environmentally friendly. Fake preserved palms and plants are environmentally tested, and we ensure that they’re made inherently fire retardant.
Preserved trees give you the look, feel, and texture of real trees but with zero upkeep. There’s no need to worry about palm fronds going brown or your statement tree needing more water. These tropical decor trees are the perfect balance of nature and technology.
Preserved Trees & Plants are made with natural plant material that has been chemically treated for longevity and fire retarding properties. Fabricated Trees & Plants are completely manmade to any custom shape or size. Replica Trees & Plants are made with natural plant materials, like natural wood trunks, as well as artificial foliage.
Preserved Trees and Plants are considered to be “immortalized”, but it is important to remember that the plant tissue is still natural, organic plant material. The tissue has microscopic openings in the surface called stomata; they are like the pores of human skin. Even in a preserved state, there is interaction between the surrounding ambient air and the plant tissue through stomata.
Do not expose preserved foliage to too much or too little moisture in the air, or temperature extremes. The recommended environment is a temperature not exceeding 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees centigrade) and relative humidity between 30% and 80%.
This depends a lot on the environment where the plants are installed. Preserved Trees and Plants react to environmental conditions such as heat, light, and humidity in a very similar manner to live plants. If a plant is in a stable environment without excess heat, light, or humidity, Preserved Products can last for 8 years or longer. The trunks are usually more durable than the foliage. Quite often just the preserved foliage can be replaced, making the tree or plant look brand new again.
We suggest planning and budgeting to replace 1/3 of the foliage on each Preserved Palm Tree every 3 years. If your fronds are subject to more sun or abuse, you may need to increase the percentage.
Incorporate the replacement with the cleaning of the fronds and move the older fronds to the bottom of the tree, disposing of the more damaged or faded fronds, and be sure to put all the new fronds at the top center of the tree and it will look just as Mother Nature intended.
The new growth will be on the top and the older, more worn fronds at the bottom. This allows for a consistent and natural look while at the same time maintaining a steady budget rather than waiting until the trees look completely worn and then having a large expenditure to replace them all at once.
Humidity is the primary issue with putting Preserved Products outside. Preserved Products react to the environment in a similar manner to live plants and trees. If the air is humid, the leaves will absorb more moisture from the air than the cells can hold, and some solution may eventually leak out. The leaves also become very heavy and will soften and droop. Even though an area is protected, the humidity will probably be very high at night and there will eventually be problems. Other reasons include sunlight, which will cause the leaves to fade quickly, and wind, which will damage the leaves.
Our artisans also helped pioneer the use of Preserved Palm Trees as a Las Vegas decor trend. The Mirage Hotel boasted an atrium full of gracefully arching Preserved Palms and additional plants for its grand opening over thirty years ago, and MGM Grand just ordered Preserved Palms for a lobby display in 2019!
Travelers near and far have likely encountered our Preserved Products without even realizing it. They’ve been used as interior decor for major airports, shopping centers, casinos, restaurants, and hotels worldwide. One notable example is the many varieties of Preserved Palm Trees that we’ve provided for Margaritaville Restaurants and Resorts across America.
Plantworks offers many Preserved Products, but not all trees and plants are suitable for the preservation process. It depends on how much moisture they have, how they dry, and many other factors. We’re pleased to have one of the largest selections in the industry, along with unparalleled quality and durability.
Replica Trees & Plants
Replica Products from Plantworks bring you the realism of nature but with none of the maintenance. These products do not require water, sunlight, soil and soil treatment, pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizer. They will never brown, wither, or die.
Our botanically accurate products may look real, but they require virtually no upkeep (other than an occasional dusting). In fact, our artificial trees are specifically designed to bring you years of lasting splendor while freeing you from the cost and inconvenience of traditional tree and plant maintenance.
TreeProductions™ Replica Products to suit whatever design or creation you have in mind. You can “plant” Replica Palm Trees inside a Ski Lodge or “grow” Boxwood Hedges as office cubicle partitions. Of course, you can also decorate with any of our other Replica Products, including Succulents, Florals, and Mosses, and use them in Green Walls as well.
Plantworks’ products can be customized to match the look, full, or function that you’re seeking. Choices for customization include foliage density and shape, product size, and bark detail.
Foliage Density
Open and Lacey: Our lightest density option, ideal for areas where light penetration and sight lines need to remain open.
Designer Select: Our most popular foliage option, offering medium density and a balance of light and visibility.
Signature Series: Our most dense foliage option, most often used for trees and plants that divide space, provide privacy, or block out light.
Foliage Shape
Canopy Style: A traditional tree shape with a standard-size trunks and large, overarching branches and foliage
Columnar Style: A narrow, even shape that’s perfect for tight spaces or corners.
Vase Style: A shape option between Canopy and Columnar, offering a standard trunk and foliage that flares outward at the top.
Seeking another shape? Let us know! Our custom creations can be easily adjusted to match your specifications.
Size
All of our TreeProductions™ products, including our museum-quality replica trees, florals, and artificial green walls, are custom-built to meet the client’s size specifications. Our Replica Trees typically range from 4 feet to 24 feet in height. If a tree is specified for over 24 feet in overall height, we usually recommend our Fabricated product line, where there are no diameter, shape, width or height limitations.
Trunk
Each artificial tree trunk is hand-crafted to meet the size, texture, color and shape specified by the customer. The museum-quality Replica Trees in our TreeProductions™ line of products are constructed with all-natural, wood tree trunks. They can be ordered with either single-stem or multi-stem trunks. In addition, we can upgrade the multi-stem trunk to our exotic “Mystic Timber” stems.
Replica Trees have natural wood trunks, grown by Mother Nature herself.
Fabricated Trees and Plants have trunks and branches manufactured from manmade materials.
Fabricated products are also designed to withstand the elements and have weather-coated or non-fabric foliage and trunks. They can be used for exterior projects, while Replica products are for interior use only.
Replica Products are primarily made with our UltraLeaf-IFR® Foliage, which is tested and rated as being Inherently Fire Retardant. This is an essential factor for commercial use and general safety. Some Replica Products are also designed with UltraLeaf-X® Foliage, which is tested and rated as being Ultraviolet Inhibited. This is ideal for interior locations with sun or wind exposure.
Our products are custom-made individually. An important part of this realistic detailing is that our TreeProductions™ Replica Horticulturals are not made to look perfect. Nothing in Mother Nature is exactly perfect or identical, so we add small knots, bends, or barely visible imperfections. These help the eye to believe it’s a real living tree or plant at first sight!
Our Replica Trees & Plants combine all-natural wood tree trunks with commercial-grade, non-living foliage. This results in extremely realistic products that cannot be replicated by big box retailers who sell artificial trees with painted plastic branches and trunks. Additionally, our Replica Products can be created to your exact specifications and are easy to clean when dust settles years after installation.
UVI-Rated Products
Many interior installations are placed in direct or partial sunlight, which can be equally damaging to indoor and outdoor products. We offer combined UVI-Rated UltraLeaf-X® Foliage and Inherently Fire Retardant UltraLeaf-IFR® Foliage for these situations.
The end result is an Artificial Tree or Plant that looks real, does not sustain fire when removed from a direct flame, and does not degrade due to sun exposure. We are proud to offer Faux Plants and Trees that meet and exceed fire and safety codes, on state and federal levels. Our commercial clients rely on us to create Fake Trees and Fake Plants that are safe, legally approved for commercial use, and still just as beautiful as the real thing.
Our Ultraviolet Inhibited (UVI) UltraLeaf-X® Foliage is manufactured with a proprietary chemical solution that is impregnated into the fibers of the foliage. This chemical directly inhibits the damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
This exclusive UltraLeaf-X® UVI Foliage was independently laboratory tested and exposed to over 2,000 hours of UV light (equivalent to years of ordinary exposure) with zero product degradation noted.
Tree Installation
All products are securely shipped to the project location or design company. Local deliveries are available to nearby locations. This is the most popular option for our Las Vegas casino, hotel, and restaurant clients.
Most plants and floral arrangements are ready to display immediately upon arrival – no assembly is required! Tree delivery will depend on the size and shape of the tree.
Replica Trees up to 10 feet tall are shipped as one piece and usually only need to be placed into their container. Some, but not all, Replica Trees over 10 feet are broken down into individual components to facilitate shipping.
Fabricated Trees under 10 feet in diameter will come as one piece and will only require a few minutes to install. Larger and special custom-fabricated trees will require assembly by our trained technicians.
This will depend on the type of tree and its size. Trees up to 10 feet tall can usually be installed without any equipment in approximately 30-45 minutes per tree. They tend to be shipped as one piece but may need to be shipped as individual pieces. Larger trees may require assembly by our trained technicians.
Trees between 10–20 feet require a ladder and approximately one hour per tree to assemble. Trees reaching heights above 20 feet require a mechanical lift, and installation time averages an hour to an hour and a half per tree. If a steel base plate is used and bolt holes need to be drilled, add an extra 30 minutes to an hour per tree.
Replica Trees up to 10 feet tall are shipped as one piece and only need to be placed into the decorative pot, requiring approximately 15 minutes per tree. Some, but not all, Replica Trees over 10 feet are broken down into individual trunks and branches to facilitate shipping.
Upon arrival, the components need to be set back into their PVC or steel collars. These are secured with nuts and bolts that we provide. The trunks, branches, and collars are color-coded for easy identification as to which element fits into which collar. There may also be wiring in the canopy of the tree that needs to be attached. It takes approximately 1 hour to assemble a tree of this size.
Fabricated Trees under 10 feet in diameter will come as one piece and will only require a few minutes to install. However, most Fabricated Trees will require assembly by one of our trained technicians. The time needed for this will vary for each job.
This depends upon the height and type of tree being installed, but usually, a 5 – 6 inch embed depth is sufficient for Interior Trees. Larger bolts would be needed for exterior applications. The bolts need to come out approximately 3 inches above the concrete for the nuts and washers. Excess length can be cut off afterward if necessary.
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