If you are planning to buy artificial plants for your garden, balcony, or any area exposed to the sun, then you’ll want to know how long they will last under the harsh Australian sun.

Have you purchased artificial plants in the past and watched them fade quickly over time? There are many businesses out there with vast differences in manufacturing techniques, which affect the quality, and overall lifespan of their products. 

In this blog, we'll give you the lowdown on what to look out for and what to avoid, so you can have confidence in your artificial plant purchases.

What makes artificial greenery UV safe or resistant?

‘UV safe’ and ‘UV resistant’ are general terms used by many artificial greenery companies. This usually means one of two things: The artificial greenery has been made with UV resistant chemicals during manufacturing, or the plant has been sprayed externally with UV resistant chemicals after the manufacturing process. However, these two types of UV resistance deliver varying outcomes in lifespan and quality.

How long does UV-safe artificial greenery last?

Generally, this depends significantly on how the greenery is manufactured.

This can last well over 6 years in direct sunlight without colour fading or leaves cracking. This makes injection moulded plants superior in most situations, as they retain their pure pigments for the longest. Red pigments fade the quickest so if you are looking for an artificial plant with underlying red pigmentation, we would only recommend injection moulded plants.

This can last for multiple years if UV protection is applied regularly, although fading will still occur even with regular upkeep. The ongoing costs and maintenance can be upwards of $150 per square metre per year with spraying needed every few months. Outdoor plants will need more UV applications as the rain washes away the spray.

Can I use non-UV-safe greenery in indirect sunlight?

Not if you want your plant to last! Non-UV-safe artificial greenery will change colour when exposed to too much sunlight. This is due to the unstable chemicals that it's made from, and even when positioned in indirect sunlight, it can have a visible effect.

Can I use non-UV-safe greenery in the sun if I spray them with UV spray?

Yes. However, you will need to spray them regularly to maintain UV resistance. At an average of $100 per 250ml, it can be a costly and time-consuming process. For this reason, we do not recommend doing this.

No. Generally, 'silk' plants are not UV safe and can be a considerable fire hazard. Often 'silk' plants are made from polyester, polymers and/or plastics. While they are softer to the touch than UV-safe greenery, they are much more delicate, will fade and tear over time, and are highly flammable. Evergreen Walls generally would not recommend using silk plants due to high maintenance and safety hazards.

I'm looking at artificial plants online, but it doesn't specify if it's UV-safe or what type of UV-safe it is. What do I do?

In this situation, the greenery is likely to be not UV-safe. If you’d like to confirm, you can contact the company directly for further information. All Evergreen Walls greenery will clearly state whether or not the greenery is UV-safe.

UV resistant green walls and plants from Evergreen Walls are 'Inherently UV Protected'. This means each plant has been injection moulded with a premium chemical stabiliser during the manufacturing process. During this process, a fire-safe chemical is also injected to ensure all Evergreen Walls are not flammable (unlike silk plants).

At Evergreen Walls, we offer UV and non-UV safe greenery and would only recommend certain products where necessary. Our team of experts are always happy to assist you with the best solution.

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