What drives the cost of a commercial plantscape project
Commercial plantscape pricing reflects more than plant count. Scope, access, custom planters, living versus faux mix, and ongoing care all move budgets — often more than species choice alone.
Project minimum and typical ranges
We use a $1,000 project minimum for smaller room scopes. Whole-floor or multi-zone offices, lobbies, and client-facing suites commonly land well above that once anchors, repeats, and installation labor are included. Proposals for design documentation typically fall in the $300–$750 range and are delivered within about two weeks after consultation.
The $75 consultation covers a walkthrough and direction before you commit to a full proposal.
What increases cost
Scale and repetition — Matching trees in a reception pair, repeating troughs along a bench line, or greening multiple conference rooms multiplies material and labor.
Custom planters — Built-ins, powder-coated metals, and large ceramic forms add lead time and cost compared with stock vessels.
Living walls and large specimens — Structural support, irrigation, and sourcing specialty sizes carry premiums.
Access and timing — After-hours installation, freight elevators, and protected finishes can affect install scheduling and price.
Maintenance contracts — Optional service at $75/hour keeps public spaces consistent; scope depends on plant mix and visit frequency.
What keeps budgets predictable
Clear priorities upfront — one hero moment versus full-floor greening — prevent scope creep. Combining living material where light supports it and faux where durability matters often stabilizes long-term cost better than replacing failed living plants quarterly.
It also helps to separate the one-time install from the ongoing program early. A reception centerpiece and a pair of conference-room specimens are a fixed cost; keeping them healthy and camera-ready is a recurring one. Deciding upfront whether your team will handle plant care or hand it to us avoids surprises after installation and lets us specify plant choices that match the maintenance plan you actually intend to use.
Phasing is another level. If the full vision exceeds this quarter's budget, we can stage the work — anchor the lobby and primary client-facing rooms first, then extend to secondary spaces later — so the most visible areas land within budget without compromising the overall design.
Our commercial plant design service outlines typical inclusions for offices and professional services firms.
Deposits and lead times
Installation usually starts with a 50% deposit; lead times are often two to four weeks depending on sourcing. Rush timelines may limit planter or species options.
Specialty planters, large specimens, and living walls sit at the longer end of that window because they depend on sourcing and, in some cases, fabrication. If your project is tied to an office opening, a client event, or a renovation reveal, building in lead time protects your options — the more runway we have, the more we can match the exact planter and plant scale the design calls for rather than substituting what happens to be available.
Living, faux, and the total cost of ownership
The living-versus-faux decision shows up in the budget twice: once at install and again over the years that follow. Living material generally costs less upfront but carries ongoing care and occasional replacement. Quality faux costs more per piece initially but holds its look for years with only periodic dusting. In high-traffic commercial settings, or in low-light corners where living plants struggle, faux often wins on total cost of ownership even when the install line item is higher. We weigh both numbers when we recommend a mix.
Getting a number you can plan around
We do not publish one-size packages because every space is different. Office layouts, square footage, and brand standards vary from project to project. A walkthrough produces a scoped proposal aligned with how your team will actually maintain the space.
The clearer you can be about priorities and constraints — must-have spaces, brand colors, who maintains the plants, and any event deadlines — the tighter and more useful the proposal will be. That alignment upfront is what keeps a commercial project on budget from consultation through install.
Process details and common questions live on Contact & FAQs.
