Choosing the perfect material should be your main priority. This will dictate how realistic your artificial flowers and plants will look and can sometimes even determine the type of flowers you can buy - some just simply can't be found in certain materials.
You'll need to consider exactly how much you're willing to pay for your flowers, and how long you will want them to last. More durable materials will last you longer and will be safe for outdoor use, but they will initially cost you a lot more money than the flimsier materials.
Want something super realistic? => Silk
Silk flowers are probably the closest you can get to the real thing. They'll usually have quite a lot of detail that distinguishes them from other types of artificial flowers and makes them look so realistic.
The fabric also often mimics the natural behavior of flower petals, which gives them an added realism.
This is a great option for bigger flowers with relatively large petals, where it would be otherwise very easy to tell that they're fake.
However, silk is usually only ever used as a flower material - stems and leaves are made from plastic or latex, so it's very unlikely to find a silk plant that's just foliage.
Also, silk flowers can get very expensive. Though there are similar fabric alternatives, like polyester or cotton, they all fall at a very similar price point, and buying them in bulk may put a bit of a strain on your wallet.
Want real-touch flowers? => Latex
Latex plants and flowers are usually described as real-touch or fresh-touch as the feel of the material often mimics the feel of a fleshy stem or petal.
They are made using molds taken of real, living plants in an attempt to give them the details and imperfections you'd find in real plants.
Only a limited range of flowers is available in latex, as only lilies, orchids, and roses look convincing enough.
Keep in mind, these flowers are unsuitable for individuals with latex allergies - you don't want to have a nasty reaction just from holding a bouquet of flowers!
Only want something small? => Foam
Foam flowers are the perfect choice if you want flowers with quite small and dainty petals.
While they're not the most realistic looking, they can be easily integrated with other artificial or real flowers to make them look nicer.
They come with wired or taped stems, and usually don't have any leaves, so they're only really used for small details rather than as main flower composition pieces.
Foam flowers are usually quite cheap, though the cheaper you go, the worse they will look. Also, the color fades in some really cheap versions, so be wary of surprisingly low prices!
Just need something cheap? => Plastic
Now, plastic flowers and plants are usually considered the worst quality out of every other material, but that isn't always the case.
If you're prepared to pay a little more than the absolute cheapest prices, you can actually find some relatively realistic and high-quality plants - even the more premium prices are usually much lower than silk or latex plants.
Plastic is a pretty popular choice for foliage without flowers, especially if the leaves have a naturally waxy appearance in real life.
These plants and flowers are usually better off as side or filler pieces, rather than the focal points of your decoration.
