Real Plants vs. Replica Plants: What is The Best Greenery for Your Office?

The term biophilic originates from Greek: bio meaning “life,” and philia meaning “love” or “affinity.” A biophilic space is one that fosters a connection with nature and offers opportunities for people to interact with it. When correctly designed, they can help restore our focus, and increase our productivity.

Biophilic design encompasses more than just plants. As biophilic designers, we consider elements like natural light, textures, materials, and even sounds when thinking about how to bring nature indoors. This might include features such as water elements, wooden furniture, or upholstery made of natural materials (like jute or hemp). However, for the purpose of our discussion today, we will be focussing on the specific impact that plants have.

Filling spaces with beautiful, vibrant plants can have a huge impact on how the occupants of that space feel; the more seamlessly they are integrated the better!

What we’re exploring today is whether it’s the physical presence of live plants that fosters our connection to nature, or simply the perception of that connection.

Intriguingly, many studies suggest that even looking at images of forests or being exposed to the colour green can deliver similar benefits to being physically surrounded by living plants. So, is it truly worth investing in real plants? Or could high-quality artificial ones offer a simpler, lower-maintenance alternative with comparable results?

Often, the cultural perception of artificial plants, is that they are cheap, tacky, and ultimately a bit naff. This can be down to poor installation, a lack of quality, and incorrect positioning.

Yet despite these associations, artificial plants can still deliver some of the psychological benefits we typically associate with living greenery.

Several studies have examined this, including research published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, which assessed adults’ physiological and psychological responses to different visual stimuli: real plants, artificial plants, plant photos, and no plants.

The findings showed that real plants had the strongest positive effects on mood and stress reduction, while artificial plants also offered some benefits, though to a lesser extent.

So if artificial plants are cheaper to maintain, potentially less of a fire risk, and can provide some of the psychological benefits of real plants, then why do we bother with live plants at all? There are a few key reasons why choosing to have live plants is still often the best option.

First and foremost is the difference in air quality. Unlike artificial plants, real plants purify the air, reduce harmful compounds, and increase oxygen levels.

In 2006, researcher Margaret Burchett found that potted plants can significantly reduce the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments. VOCs are common pollutants emitted by sources such as paint, air fresheners, and even carpets. Often found at higher levels indoors than outdoors, they are closely linked to “sick-building syndrome.” Thanks to the action of their soil and root-zone microorganisms, potted plants can effectively absorb and break down these pollutants, improving indoor air quality in a natural, sustainable way.

The beauty of real plants is that they constantly change and grow. A morphic, changing office environment has been shown to positively impact productivity, and reduce feelings of monotony. It can also positively impact creativity.

One of the major benefits of real plants, is that they are not made of plastic! Of course, there are environmental trade-offs in the debate between real and plastic. Artificial plants don’t require water, and can in theory last indefinitely without deteriorating

However, almost all synthetic plants rely on fossil fuels for their production, and are difficult to recycle, which negatively impacts the environment. Some materials are also more problematic than others. For instance, PVC is hard to recycle, while PE (polyethylene) can often be recycled or at least downcycled.

In contrast, real plants not only avoid these issues but also actively contribute to sustainability by sequestering carbon during their life cycle. And at the end of their life-cycle, they naturally decompose, returning nutrients to the soil; something artificial plants simply can’t do.

While artificial plants can offer short-term convenience, real plants deliver some amazing long-term benefits that go far beyond just the aesthetic. They improve air quality, boost mood and productivity, and foster a deeper biophilic connection between the spaces they are in, and the people that use them. Choosing living foliage also supports sustainability by reducing plastic use and reinforcing your commitment to the natural world. While adding any form of greenery can bring immediate, tangible benefits to you and your team, real, living plants may ultimately be the more rewarding choice.