Best Artificial Plants for Terrariums
Updated How we research
Artificial plants earn their place when live ones will not survive: arid desert setups, heavy diggers, quarantine tubs and low-light racks. Their real job is cover, so an animal can cross open ground without feeling exposed. What varies is material and safety. Soft silk and silicone leaves suit delicate skin, stiff plastic can carry sharp molded edges, and cheap dyes sometimes bleed once daily misting starts. We weighed leaf density, whether suction cups and stakes actually hold, and how well each piece survives repeated washing and disinfecting. Broad-leaf vines suit crested geckos and tree frogs that sleep on foliage, low bushy clumps suit leopard geckos and ball pythons crossing open floor, and mats suit background cover. Check for wire ends poking through stems, and trim or seal anything sharp before it goes near an animal.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 6.3 to 7.7 out of 10.
- Best overall:Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton. Highest overall score in this guide at 7.7/10.
- Also great value:Exo Terra Silk Terrarium Plant, Large, Ficus. Value score of 8/10, overall 7.7/10.
- Solid build:Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton. Build and materials score of 7/10, overall 7.3/10.
- Feature-rich:Exclaith Reptile Fake Monstera Plants, 4 Pack. Features score of 7/10, overall 7.0/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not change our picks. Affiliate disclosure
Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton
The Exo Terra plastic terrarium plant in Large, Croton style, a bigger artificial plant for mid to large enclosures.
Exo Terra Silk Terrarium Plant, Large, Ficus
Exo Terra's silk terrarium plant in Large, Ficus style, a soft-leaved artificial plant for bigger enclosures.
- 1.Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton7.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Exo Terra Silk Terrarium Plant, Large, Ficus7.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton7.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Small7.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Exclaith Reptile Fake Monstera Plants, 4 Pack7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Exo Terra Hanging Silk Plants - Ficus6.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.IBWell Fake Reptile Plants with Suction Cup6.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.IBWell Fake Reptile Plants with Suction Cup6.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
| # | Product | Our score | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton | 7.7/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 2 | Exo Terra Silk Terrarium Plant, Large, Ficus | 7.7/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 3 | Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton | 7.3/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 4 | Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Small | 7.3/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 5 | Exclaith Reptile Fake Monstera Plants, 4 Pack | 7.0/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 6 | Exo Terra Hanging Silk Plants - Ficus | 6.9/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 7 | IBWell Fake Reptile Plants with Suction Cup | 6.3/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 8 | IBWell Fake Reptile Plants with Suction Cup | 6.3/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
The Exo Terra plastic terrarium plant in Large, Croton style, a bigger artificial plant for mid to large enclosures.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Large size provides real visual cover for shy animals
- + Durable plastic survives climbing and misting
- + Easy to rinse clean during tank maintenance
- - Costs more than smaller plants for a similar look
- - Sharp plastic edges should be checked before adding
Exo Terra's silk terrarium plant in Large, Ficus style, a soft-leaved artificial plant for bigger enclosures.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Silk leaves look softer and more natural than plastic
- + Large Ficus gives height and cover for arboreal species
- + Suction cup style base can attach to glass
- - Silk can fray over time with climbing and misting
- - Harder to clean thoroughly than plastic plants
Exo Terra's plastic terrarium plant in Small, Croton style, a colorful artificial plant for any enclosure.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Croton leaves add bright color to desert or tropical tanks
- + Plastic plants do not need light or watering
- + Small size fits nano and juvenile setups easily
- - Plastic leaves can look artificial next to real plants
- - Small plant gives only minor cover for hiding animals
An Exo Terra plastic terrarium plant in Small, Mandarin style, a leafy green accent for small enclosures.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Mandarin leaves give a natural green look in tropical tanks
- + Small plant fits corners and behind hides
- + No care needed beyond occasional rinsing
- - Small plant alone gives little coverage, so group several together
- - Plastic does not add humidity like live plants
Exclaith's 4 Pack of reptile fake plants with artificial Monstera leaves for terrarium and amphibian habitat decor.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 4 Pack fills an enclosure with cover at a low cost
- + Monstera leaves give a bold, jungle look
- + Suitable for amphibian and reptile tanks alike
- - Lesser-known brand, so check for loose parts before use
- - Large leaves may block lighting for other decor
Exo Terra hanging silk plants in Ficus style, trailing artificial foliage for upper levels of terrariums.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Hanging design fills upper areas where climbers rest
- + Silk Ficus leaves look natural and feel soft
- + Adds cover up high without taking any floor space from the animal
- - Check the plant size and length before buying
- - Silk leaves collect dust and need regular rinsing
IBWell's fake reptile plants with a suction cup for reptile terrariums and turtle tanks.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Suction cup base attaches to glass in wet and dry tanks
- + Works in turtle tanks where soil-based plants cannot go
- + Adds quick cover without needing lighting
- - Suction cups can lose grip over time, especially on dirty or wet glass
- - Check the pack size and plant height before buying
A second IBWell fake reptile plant listing with a suction cup, sold for terrarium decor and turtle tanks.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Suction cup mounting lets the plant sit on glass above the waterline
- + Artificial foliage survives turtle tanks where real plants get eaten
- + Cheap way to add green cover to a bare enclosure
- - Near-identical to another IBWell listing, so compare pack contents first
- - Title gives no plant size, so coverage is hard to judge in advance
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Costs more than smaller plants for a similar look (Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton)
- Silk can fray over time with climbing and misting (Exo Terra Silk Terrarium Plant, Large, Ficus)
- Plastic leaves can look artificial next to real plants (Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton)
- Small plant alone gives little coverage, so group several together (Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Small)
- Lesser-known brand, so check for loose parts before use (Exclaith Reptile Fake Monstera Plants, 4 Pack)
- Check the plant size and length before buying (Exo Terra Hanging Silk Plants - Ficus)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among artificial plants for terrariums?
Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Croton is our top overall pick. The Exo Terra plastic terrarium plant in Large, Croton style, a bigger artificial plant for mid to large enclosures. It earns our score of 7.7/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Exo Terra Silk Terrarium Plant, Large, Ficus is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Exo Terra's silk terrarium plant in Large, Ficus style, a soft-leaved artificial plant for bigger enclosures.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Terrarium Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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