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Southern Living / Alli Waataja
Artificial hanging baskets allow you to step back from being a plant parent, since you don’t need to water them or ensure they’re getting the proper amount of sunlight. There’s no killing these “plants”—artificial hanging baskets can last for years “and with the proper care, even decades,” says Bree Iman Clarke, founder and creative grower of The Plant Project, the first Black woman-owned plant shop in Texas.
There are various types of artificial hanging baskets to choose from, from weather-resistant options to ones that are strictly for indoor use. There are various price points, too, and nowadays you can find ones that look almost indistinguishable from the real thing. To compile this list, we focused on several factors, like size, materials, plant type, and durability. Clarke also weighed in with expert advice for choosing the right artificial hanging basket for every space.
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Leaves and flowers are UV-resistant
Easy to clean
Lacks a heavy object to hold the greenery down
On the small side
This arrangement earned our top spot for its versatility, features, and affordability. It comes with a mixture of flowers and greenery—including roses, eucalyptus, fern, and baby’s breath—creating a balanced look. The leaves and flowers are made out of UV-resistant plastic, so they will not fade from direct sunlight. The basket has a coconut fiber lining, which gives it a natural look.
Each basket comes with four bunches of Boston fern leaves, seven flower bunches, one faux grass base, and one metal basket. When the basket is delivered, the flowers and plants may need smoothing or straightening. This is normal, because they’re meant to be flexible so that you can assemble the basket.
It is recommended to clean this artificial hanging basket periodically, but the cleaning process is simple. All you need to do is use a dry cloth to wipe off any dust or dirt that may accumulate on the plants. The only downside of this artificial hanging basket is its small size. Its overall dimensions are 10 x 10 x 14.9 inches, so this basket may not take up enough space on larger porches. Keep in mind that a styrofoam block is not included, so you will need to purchase one to prevent the flowers and greenery from falling out of the basket.
Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 14.9 inches | Materials: Plastic, coconut fiber, metal | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Available in five different colors/styles
Easy to assemble
No UV protection
The Ammyoo Artificial Hanging Orchid Basket is a vibrant and colorful choice. The basket features bright pink orchids that are made out of high-quality plastic, and the chain is made of a durable metal that will last for a long time. The basket is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
If you use this basket outdoors, be sure to hang it in a shadier area or an area with a covering since the manufacturer doesn’t specify if there is UV protection, so it’s probably not as durable as other options. On the bright side, this basket is easy to assemble, comes in a variety of pretty colors and style, and has a budget-friendly price that means you can easily outfit your entire porch without spending a fortune.
Dimensions: 15.7 x 15.7 x 21.6 inches | Materials: Silk, plastic | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Quick set-up process
Highly realistic with a lot of volume
Colors are muted and not very bright
This basket is certainly an investment piece, but you’ll be able to tell the difference in quality thanks to the large rattan basket and lush foliage. This basket stuns with cottage roses in varying shades of pink, as well as eucalyptus leaves, ivy leaves, and wildflowers. The rose petals are handcrafted, and each hanging basket comes with 40 or more layers of petals. Thanks to both of these features, this basket has a beautiful appearance. Another unique feature is its 23.5-inch hanging chain that lets everyone get a closer look at the arrangement. Plus, there is no assembly required.
Although this is an outdoor-safe hanging basket that does have UV protection, Balsam Hill recommends displaying it outdoors for a total of three months out of the year to preserve its quality. If you really love the look, you can also purchase a matching wreath, garland, or potted basket.
Dimensions: 26 x 26 x 30 inches | Materials: Rattan, flowers not specified | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Available in two sizes
Flowers are long enough to hide the basket
Recommended for indoor use only
This option stands out because it’s a trailing plant that conceals the basket. The reed basket is shaped like a cone to hide perfectly under the trailing bougainvillea flowers and dark green leaves. What’s great about this basket is that you do not need to assemble it yourself—it comes assembled and ready to style. You will need to stretch out some of the flowers and plants though, because they may be compressed from the packaging.
The plant is a bit more muted in color compared to others on our list, although this provides a more natural look. It’s also recommended for indoor use only, so it’s best for use in foyers and covered porches.
Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 40 inches; 24 x 24 x 31 inches | Materials: Synthetic fabric, metal, reed | Outdoor Use: No
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Both the basket and the plant itself are large
Available in four colors
Stems are compressed on arrival, so you have to manipulate them to achieve a realistic look
This large artificial hanging basket measures 38 × 38 x 42 inches, making it the perfect basket for large patios or spacious verandas. The arrangement comes with one rattan basket, a green base made out of foam, and four leafy branches with silk bougainvillea flowers. The basket can hang both indoors and outdoors, and the occasional swipe with a dry cloth is the only upkeep required.
The flowers come in four different colors, including purple, orange, pink, and red. Plus, the rattan hanging basket is tall, so it peaks out from underneath the trailing flowers for a stylish appearance. Take note that you'll need to manually arrange the stems yourself, as the flowers are compressed for shipping, so don't be alarmed by its appearance straight out of the box.
Dimensions: 38 x 38 x 42 inches | Materials: Silk, rattan, metal | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Easily fits into any indoor or outdoor space
The rope is less durable than a metal chain
This little hanging basket is perfect for adding some greenery both indoors and out. It measures just 5.9 x 5.9 x 30 inches, so it can fit just about anywhere. The arrangement features artificial money leaves in a clay pot. With this simple assortment, the basket will perfectly blend in with most surroundings. Plus, setting up this basket is easy; all you need to do is hang it up, no assembly required. It weighs about a pound, so you won’t have trouble moving it around your space.
Keep in mind that the chain is made from rope and not metal, so it may begin to fray over time. This hanging plant is super versatile, and makes a nice accessory to add to your porch, patio, home office, bedroom, kitchen, and more.
Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.9 x 30 inches | Materials: Plastic, silk, clay, rope | Outdoor Use: Yes
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UV- and weather-resistant
Rust-proof basket
Stems have uneven ends
Uneven distribution of flowers for each style
For outdoor use, this hanging basket has brightly colored flowers that will never fade. The silk flowers are UV resistant and made to withstand the elements. If you live in a rainy or sunny area with little coverage, you can feel confident about this hanging basket. Each basket comes with multi-colored, artificial daisy flowers with eucalyptus leaves, all in a rust-proof metal basket with a coconut fiber lining.
To assemble, spread out the branches and stretch out any that were compressed during shipping. Then, cover the circular foam base with the eucalyptus leaves. Place the foam and eucalyptus leaves in the rattan basket with the eucalyptus side showing. Lastly, arrange each flower in the basket by sticking each stem into the base. This might take a little force, as the blunt ends can make it hard to push the stems into the foam. But once it’s assembled, this hanging basket will brighten any house or patio.
Dimensions: 15.7 x 15.7 x 19 inches | Materials: Silk, plastic, coconut fiber, metal | Outdoor Use: Yes
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You can arrange the flowers to your liking
Only available in two shades of pink
These flowers remind us of the beauty that comes after April showers. Intended to look like peach blossoms, these artificial flowers are made out of silk and come in two shades of pink. The blooms are accompanied by long green stems of ivy. The metal basket comes lined with coconut fiber, although the long stems cover the basket almost completely. Each hanging basket comes with four packs of flowers, one base foam, a coconut fiber lining, a rust-resistant chain, and a basket.
This basket doesn’t come pre-assembled, so to get the flowers hanging over the basket, you’ll need to bend and twist each flower stem. To set up this hanging basket, separate each bundle of flowers and fluff any that look flat or compressed. Next, place the foam base in the basket and start sticking flower stems into the foam base. Some flower stems may naturally bend or hang over the basket. If not, though, bending the brown stems should do the trick.
Dimensions: 40 x 40 x 45 inches | Materials: Silk, foam, coconut fiber, metal | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Large, billowy leaves add lots of volume
Easy to clean
Not intended for outdoor use
If you don’t want blooms, go for the Nearly Natural Large Boston Fern Hanging Basket, which has long, billowy leaves that conceal most of the basket. It features an artificial Boston fern with silk leaves and a durable wicker basket. The basket has various tones of brown instead of one uniform color, giving it a unique appearance. Because this arrangement is intended for indoor use, the chain is made of rope instead of metal.
There is no setup required with this basket, as it ships pre-assembled. When you open the package, the leaves may look flat or a bit crushed, but this is normal. You can spread the leaves out and then hang the basket. While it may take time for the leaves to look their best, it’ll be worth the wait. After a few days, the plant will naturally expand and adjust. Since it’s indoor only, you’ll need to periodically use a dry cloth to wipe away dust to ensure the plant looks its best.
Dimensions: 42 x 42 x 22 inches | Materials: Silk, plastic, wicker, rope | Outdoor Use: No
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UV-resistant
Comes in four colors
Does not come pre-assembled
These light and bright flowers are perfect for springtime. The arrangement comes with a UV-resistant coating that protects the flowers and leaves from fading, so you don’t have to worry if your basket receives direct sunlight for long periods of time. It comes with a coconut fiber-lined basket, one chain, one hook, and foam.
t is not pre-assembled, so you will need to assemble the basket yourself. It should only take about five minutes or so, but you do have to insert the branches one at a time. You may also need to fluff the flowers once you unbox them, since they may not look as full or cover the green base underneath.
Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 26 inches | Materials: Silk, coconut lining, metal | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Six color options
Easy set-up
Lacks UV protection
This hanging basket evokes summertime because of its lively colors. Choose from six different options, including orange/yellow, pink, purple, or yellow/white daisies. The basket is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, although there is no UV protection, so you may want to avoid direct sunlight.
The arrangement includes four packs of plastic daisies, a green grass ball, a piece of foam, a coconut fiber lining, and a metal basket. It is not pre-assembled, so you will need to insert the daisies into the foam yourself. However, since the packs of flowers are grouped together, you don’t have to insert them one at a time.
Dimensions: 15.7 x 15.7 x 21.6 inches | Materials: Plastic, coconut fiber, metal | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Comes pre-assembled
Easy to move around
Only one color option
This indoor hanging basket is a great option for people who want a simple pop of color in their home. It has red flowers and green leaves made of silk with plastic stems (although we wish more colors were available). There is no assembly required for this hanging basket. Once it is taken out of the package, all you need to do is straighten out any flowers or stems that may have flattened during shipping.
Thanks to its small size, it doesn’t take much effort to move the basket. The rope adds to the simplicity of this basket, although it may fray over time. This arrangement is intended for indoor use only, and direct sunlight may damage the plastic and cause the silk to fade. It’s a lovely option for a foyer or screened-in porch.
Dimensions: 32 x 32 x 24 inches | Materials: Plastic, silk, wood, rope | Outdoor Use: No
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High-quality materials
Holds up well in different weather conditions
Prone to shedding
Expensive
If you can’t decide on just one flower or plant type, consider an assortment, like this one from Grandin Road. This hanging basket features light pink carnations, dark pink poppies, purple snapdragons, lavender-colored flowers, and leafy vines. Since it’s made out of high-quality materials, this basket will keep its color for a long time. Plus, setting up this basket is easy: All you have to do is pull it out of the box and fluff out the flowers and plants.
If you plan on keeping this plant indoors, we recommend sweeping around the area every so often. Unlike other options, this arrangement lacks a basket, so the artificial moss will fall on your floor or carpet.
Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 15 inches | Materials: Polyester, plastic, foam, metal | Outdoor Use: Yes
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Easy to clean
Styrofoam is included
Not intended for outdoor use
Hangs at a lower distance
If you love the look of houseplants but don’t want to deal with maintenance, feast your eyes on this faux pothos hanging basket. Made of polyester, plastic, and silk, this shiny pothos plant is the perfect addition to any indoor space. Not only is it easy to clean, but it pairs well with most types of decor. Thanks to the included styrofoam block, the plant will remain inside the basket at all times. Plus, there’s no assembly required for this plant.
Instead of a durable chain, this basket is held together by a rope. Since there’s extra space in between the plant and the rope, the basket hangs at a lower distance. And on the downside, the manufacturer strictly states that this is an indoor plant. Besides these drawbacks, this is still a one-of-a-kind hanging basket that’s designed to last for a long time.
Dimensions: 36 x 36 x 26 inches | Materials: Polyester, plastic, silk | Outdoor Use: No
The Bottom Line
Our best overall pick, the Elecxlink Outdoor Hanging Planter, is suitable for indoor and outdoor use and will last through all seasons thanks to its UV protection. It features a well-balanced arrangement of artificial flowers and green Boston fern leaves for the best of both worlds. For a more budget-friendly choice, the Ammyoo Artificial Hanging Orchid Basket comes in five different colors and is easy to assemble.
Tips for Choosing the Right Artificial Hanging Basket
Material
Most artificial flowers and plants are made of plastic, silk (usually synthetic silk), or a mixture of both. Both of these materials may be treated with UV protectant to help prolong their life outdoors. Silk lends a more realistic look, especially to flower petals, while plastic can give more of a waxy shine that's reminiscent of leaves. Clarke says that silk flowers can fade over time and that they tend to be more expensive than plastic hanging baskets. When choosing a hanging basket, look for keywords like “UV protection” or “all season” to determine if the flowers and plants will last in various weather conditions. Typically, the manufacturer will specify if a hanging basket is meant for outdoor use or not.
Take note too that plastic artificial hanging baskets are not biodegradable and can create a lot of environmental waste. For a more sustainable option, Clarke recommends purchasing baskets made from recyclable materials, although those are harder to find. That's why it's good to choose high-quality baskets that will last for many years, and not low-quality baskets that you'll throw away after only a few months.
Size
Photos of hanging baskets can be misleading, and you don’t want to purchase a basket that is too small or big for your needs. For example, our best overall pick (the Elecxlink Outdoor Hanging Planter) is a beautiful basket, but from the pictures it looks bigger than its actual size. It’s a good idea to first measure the area where you plan to hang your plant and compare that to the manufacturer’s dimensions.
Assembly
Some hanging baskets come pre-assembled, while others require you to arrange the flower stems or branches yourself. And, if you have to arrange lights or other basket accessories, the process will take longer. There is an upside to setting up the basket yourself, however—it gives you the ability to customize your arrangement to your liking, just as you would do with real flowers. If you have the time and want a more authentic flower-arranging experience, purchasing a non-assembled hanging basket would be perfect.
For a more natural look, Clarke says that you can add artificial moss or filler to cover the liner. From there, take the largest flower and place it in the center of your basket, and add the other flowers around it. However, before adding flowers to the basket, we recommend opening them up as much as possible so that your basket will look full. After that, bend the stems and insert them into the foam block. You can also add heavy objects such as pebbles, marbles, foam, sand, or cement to the bottom of the basket to prevent it from falling over. But if you just want to hang your basket without any of the arranging, pay attention to the basket’s description to see if it will ship already assembled.
Plant Types
When designing indoor and outdoor spaces, hanging baskets are great accessories to use. Most of them tend to feature different types of flowers and/or greenery and are easy to hang. If you’re an expert at arranging flowers, then you’ll have no trouble putting together a beautiful hanging basket. However, if you’re unsure of where to start, we recommend trying out these tips. When assembling a hanging basket, the first tip we recommend is to use flowers that have similar colors. Similar to the Ammyoo Artificial Daisy Arrangement, use flowers that have the same color or are near each other on the color wheel. For a more complementary look, we suggest using flowers whose colors are on opposite sides of the color wheel. For example, you could pair yellow flowers with purple ones or blue flowers with orange ones.
Besides analogous and complementary designs, you could create an assortment of flowers that match the current season. If you’re creating a hanging basket for the summer or spring, we recommend using brightly-colored flowers and large-sized greenery. When creating this basket, you could use hydrangeas, geraniums, and ferns. For the winter months, we recommend staying away from flowers and only using greenery.
Indoor or Outdoor Usage
You want to pay attention to UV protection and fade-resistant qualities for outdoor usage. Water resistance is also important, but it is easier to avoid rain by bringing the plant inside temporarily. Placing your basket anywhere outside is fine if you don’t mind a bit of fading. But, if you do mind, you should ensure that your hanging basket is fade resistant and coated with UV protection. And if you have a covered porch or patio, this will help to prolong the lifespan of your hanging basket. Artificial hanging baskets intended for outdoor use will also usually have a rust-proof metal chain, as opposed to just a rope. Always make sure that the manufacturer lists its product as safe for outdoor use.
Questions and Answers
How much do artificial hanging baskets cost?
Artificial hanging baskets come in a wide range of prices. “I’ve seen artificial hanging baskets range from $8 to $200+,” says Clarke. The cost of an artificial hanging basket will depend on its quality. Two baskets can have the same type of foliage, but one may be more expensive because of its quality and materials.
How long do artificial hanging baskets last?
Growing up, Clarke noticed that her mother’s artificial hanging baskets lasted for years indoors and outdoors. She says indoor and outdoor longevity depends on several factors, like the “quality of the materials” and “the weather conditions” the basket is exposed to. Indoor baskets will last inside for a long time with little to no maintenance. Clarke lives in a sunny area of Texas and recommends choosing outdoor baskets made with high-quality materials. She says these can last for years and even decades with proper care.
How do you secure artificial flowers in a hanging basket?
There are several methods to secure artificial flowers in a hanging basket. Most of our picks consist of sticking the stems into a foam insert, which secures the flowers. But there are other methods of securing the flowers. “A favorite of mine has been chicken wire. Twine is another favorite,” says Clarke.
How should you take care of artificial flowers and plants?
Even though they’re artificial, these types of flowers and plants still need to be taken care of. As a child, Clarke would dust her plants off with a soft cloth or an old T-shirt that had been cut into small pieces. Another cleaning tip that Clarke recommends is to use mild soap and water. “You would be surprised how clean items get with a little Dawn and water,” she says. Since dust and other elements can accumulate on the plants over time, it’s important to regularly clean them off.
Besides cleaning, practicing regular maintenance and upkeep will also ensure that your artificial plants last a long time. One piece of advice that Clarke shares is to avoid keeping the plants out in the sun for too long. Too much sunlight can alter the appearance of artificial plants, causing them to lose their natural color. Even if your artificial plants remain indoors, make sure that you move them away from your windows every so often. The last maintenance tip that Clarke offers is to fluff the flowers from time to time. “Fluffing is also key when working with faux plants. Over time leaves and flowers can become flattened. So you’ll want to fluff out the flowers to keep your basket looking full and lush.”
Why Trust Southern Living?
This article was written by Lee Alisha Williams, a contributing writer for Southern Living, and updated by Moriah Mason, a commerce writer for Southern Living. To compile this list of the best artificial hanging baskets, they focused on size, material, plant type, and durability. Lee also spoke to Bree Iman Clarke, founder and creative grower of The Plant Project, the first Black woman-owned plant shop in Texas, for expert tips on choosing and caring for artificial hanging baskets.
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