Specifying Artificial Greenery for Commercial Projects: A Design and Procurement Checklist

Commercial artificial greenery should be specified like a project component, not selected like a loose décor item. The productive first conversation covers the location, backing or substructure, dimensions, exposure, access, documentation requirements, and how the installed surface will be maintained. A clear brief avoids late changes when a wall, lobby feature, screen, or custom hedge assembly reaches review.

Start with the project conditions

Provide drawings or a measured photo of the intended location. Identify the finish surface, available attachment points, access conditions, and any feature that affects the installation: doors, sprinklers, signage, lighting, expansion joints, outlets, or cleaning access. If the concept includes a freestanding element, describe how it will be located and supported.

Geranium Street’s modular artificial living wall systems and hedge panels can be reviewed for wall-mount or freestanding arrangements depending on the project. The exact product, backing, attachment, and dimensions must be selected against the actual site.

Make samples part of the decision

A product image cannot fully answer how color, texture, density, and finish will read under the project’s lighting. Request a sample for client, designer, and project-team review when the surface is important to the finished environment. View it at the intended distance, against nearby materials, and in representative light.

For projects where a feature wall is highly visible, include a small mockup or a clearly defined sample-review step in the schedule. That is not extra ceremony; it is the cleanest way to settle foliage mix and visual character before procurement.

Separate documentation from assumptions

Some commercial projects request product-specific fire documentation. Geranium Street states that NFPA 701 Method 2 documentation may be available for applicable product configurations. That does not mean every item is rated by default or that a report decides the project’s approval. Ask which documentation is available for the actual product and confirm requirements with the venue, authority, and project team before final selection.

Use the fire-safety resource as a starting point, then request the product-specific package needed for the project. Never write a generic fire claim into a finish schedule without that review.

Include maintenance and replacement in the handover plan

Artificial foliage removes irrigation from the design equation, but it is not a no-thought finish. The cleaning needs and service plan depend on the installation environment. Identify who can access the surface, how it will be cleaned, and how a damaged or removed portion would be addressed. For a high-traffic lobby, hospitality interior, or exterior exposure, that conversation belongs in the specification phase.

Use a clear request package

Send the project brief to Geranium Street’s commercial greenery team with drawings, photos, dimensions, and the desired application. The artificial living wall systems page and the installation planning guide help frame that conversation. When the material mix is still open, start with a sample request rather than guessing from a screen.