When designing a workspace, hotel, or retail environment, plants are one of the most impactful and cost-effective design elements you can add. They bring life, warmth, and a sense of hospitality into any space. But one important question always comes up: should you invest in commercial plant rental or buy plants outright?
Both options have their advantages. Understanding the real costs, benefits, and long-term value of each can help your business make the smarter choice.
What Is Commercial Plant Rental?
Commercial plant rental is a full-service solution where businesses lease plants instead of purchasing them. The monthly fee typically includes professional design, installation, guaranteed maintenance, and replacements. For many companies, this model fits neatly into their budget and accounting practices.
By contrast, buying plants requires an upfront capital expense, plus ongoing maintenance costs such as watering, grooming, pruning, fertilizing, and plant replacements. Without a professional service, businesses often discover that keeping plants healthy in-house is harder, more time-consuming, and more expensive than expected.
The Benefits of Commercial Plant Rental
- Professional Design & Installation
Plant rental ensures your greenery is professionally designed to complement your brand and space. From container style to plant selection, you get a polished, cohesive look without guesswork. - Guaranteed Plant Health
Maintenance and replacement are included, so your plants always look lush and thriving. If a plant struggles, it’s replaced quickly at no extra charge. - Affordable & Predictable
A common misconception is that commercial plant rental is expensive. In reality, rental programs are surprisingly affordable—often less per month than buying lunch for your staff. - Flexibility
Rental agreements are typically set for three years. This makes plant rental a smart option if your business plans to move, renovate, or simply refresh your design on a predictable cycle.
Client Story: Saving the Day for a Hotel Opening
One hotel client learned the value of plant rental the hard way. Preparing for a grand opening, they realized too late that they hadn’t budgeted for interior plants. Purchasing custom planters and the greenery they wanted would have been a budget-buster.
Planterra stepped in with a commercial plant rental program. By using tasteful standard planters and abundant greenery, we delivered the vibrant foliage the hotel needed—without the upfront cost. The result was a stunning opening day with a lobby that felt lush, welcoming, and styled.
Rental plants in hospitality
The Hidden Costs of Buying Plants Yourself
“Do It Yourself” solutions from Ikea or Home Depot may look cheaper at first, but businesses often underestimate the long-term expense and the drag on their brand image. Costs and challenges include:
- Staff time spent purchasing, planting, and assembling.
- Staff time spent watering and caring for plants.
- Losses when plants inevitably decline or die.
- Inconsistent aesthetics across spaces.
- Lack of professional staging and finishing details.
Over time, these issues add up. Many companies discover that their DIY “cost-saving” approach ends up costing more than a commercial plant rental program.
Industries That Benefit Most from Plant Rental
Commercial plant rental is especially attractive for industries that prefer to expense rentals and leases within a calendar year rather than carry a capital expense on their books. Professional firms such as CPA offices, law firms, and hotels often choose rental for exactly this reason.
Rhapis palms in an office lobby.
Which Option Is Right for You?
- Choose Commercial Plant Rental If: You want to avoid upfront costs, ensure professional plant care, and enjoy the flexibility to refresh your design every three years.
- Choose Buying If: You’re confident you’ll keep the same plant design “as-is” for more than three to five years, and you are prepared to contract a professional commercial plant company for ongoing maintenance services.
Why Planterra?
Planterra is one of North America’s top providers of commercial plant rental programs. We serve businesses across the U.S. and Canada, delivering consistent, professional standards of plant design and care. Whether you’re outfitting a single office or an entire hotel portfolio, our team ensures your plants are always vibrant, healthy, and aligned with your brand.