There's A Reason This Costco Plant Sells Out Every Single Year

Caring for houseplants when you don't have a green thumb can be seriously disheartening. Your plants keep dying, and you just can't figure out why, or maybe you're away from home for long periods and can't give them as much attention as you would have liked. Still, you love having greenery around your home and would hate to give that up. Fake plants, as controversial as they may be in the world of interior design, can be a great solution. Especially ones as realistic and beautiful as Costco's Faux 8' Olive Tree. 

This decorative piece, produced by CG Hunter and retailing at Costco for $499.99, is so sought after that it frequently goes out of stock. With hand-painted synthetic polymer trunk and branches, rich, textured leaves, and a chic artisan-like planter, this fake tree perfectly replicates its real counterpart, which has been the lynchpin of Mediterranean culture for centuries. It can bring a touch of charm, nature, and tradition to any space, without the responsibility of keeping it alive. 

There is a reason why a fake plant on the expensive side of things is still so popular with Costco customers. Making your fake plant appear perfectly imperfect is crucial to successfully integrate it into your decor, and this olive tree excels at this. "For being a faux tree, so many friends and house guests have commented they can't believe it's not real," said one reviewer. With a 4.8-star rating based on 543 reviews, buyers rave about its "expansive foliage" and "absolutely stunning" look, claiming it is "worth every single penny." Some do complain, however, about poor shipping, broken branches, and damaged soil, while others warn against using abrasive products to peel off the instruction stickers on the structure, as they can corrode the paint. 

More affordable options like Target's $250 Threshold and Studio McGee 93" Artificial Olive Tree and All Modern's $100 Adcock Faux Olive Tree can also do the job, but they're thinner and have a smaller canopy. Meanwhile, other trees of similar splendor, like Rustic Reach's Extra Large Artificial Olive Tree or Oroa's Faux Mediterranean Evergreen Tree, are much pricier, selling for more than twice the price. 

Costco's model is a great compromise between price and quality, and you might get it for even less if you're lucky enough to find it in stock at your local store. However, with Costco's being constantly sold out, you can go for Crate & Barrel's own Faux Olive Tree instead, which happens to be their best-reviewed product, and is actually a few cents cheaper.