What can I grow in a pot shaped like this?

[DigbyTheDigger]

Mine has similar proportions, but without the handles. 50cm tall, 30cm at widest point, and the opening at the top is 15cm in diameter.

Something tall and thin? Or something like creeping jenny that will hang down the sides?

I would put something tall off centre, and have something trailing coming over the front.

Unless you're growing something really big that will need deep roots, I'd half fill a pot like that with spent compost, broken pots or basically anything to avoid filling such a deep pot with multi purpose compost. That stuff has really gone up in price.

Unless you're planning on not moving them, or planting them with small trees, then I would not put compost in the pot.

Measure the round opening at the top, and drop in secondary terracotta (or even plastic) plant pots that sit within the rim. This is what I do with large ornamental pots. It means you can replant the pots seasonally, or even leave quite large plants in there, without potting inside the actual large pot.

Because of the shape, once roots start to take hold, you will never be able to get a plant out without potentially cracking or breaking the pot.

I have mine planted with things like English lavender, one with a lovely twisted bay tree, and then colourful annuals including trailing plants.

Thanks. The opening is really narrow, only about 15cm, so I don't think there's room for anything 'off centre', although I like the cut of your jib, @CatsOnTheChair .

It currently has a sad looking hakonechloa in it, whose rootball I may need to mangle to get out. It's a pot that dries out really quickly, so perhaps putting a plastic pot in it could help with that.

Right, I've just been out, and as luck would have it I not only got the hakonechloa out, but I have a spare plastic pot of the right size. So, what would give me bang for my buck but could manage in a small plastic pot for the rest of its days?

I'd do seasonal plantings rather than something permanent. For summer possibly lavender, for winter maybe a trailing rosemary.

Carrots

One really big one.

Roses like to get their roots down. If you keep them prunes and fed, they'd be pretty happy in there. Small olive tree would be another possibility, or tumbling bedding plants would also be quite happy.

Wow, I had no idea I could grow a rose in something so small! I like the wild looking ones.

Does it have to have a plant in it? Can you not keep it just for architectural value, grouped with other pots.

Is it frostproof? If not, I would grow trailing nasturtiums in it in the Summer and just put it away safely for the colder months. Unless my soil is literally magic (and it really, really isn't!) nasturtiums are enthusiastic growers, flower freely and don't need too much soil.

Because I live in one of the windiest parts of Scotland, I would put a rock in the very bottom of the pot, to stop it blowing over due to being top-heavy. You might be more sheltered, but it's worth thinking about, if only because that kind of pot can set you back a fair bit.

You can get long Tom pots, they’re narrower but taller than conventional pots. Roses need a pretty big tub unless you go for a miniature one.
I would go for seasonal plants and leave it empty in winter (is it definitely frost proof?)

Exactly this.

I think I would imagine getting a whole Mediterranean garden in there, and then scale back to one pelargonium, and 1 trailing plant . Definitely in the plastic pot.

Well you could put a rambling rector in there and it would stop the beggar from dominating the rest of your garden, a good bit of trellis work so it could climb....but it would eventually get potbound! But I had a similar sized pot and had a zephirine-drouhin in it for several years, it did start looking peaky, and getting it out of the pot was er...let's just say a challenge, due to small pot neck and large root ball, and I now have wild orchids growing in the pot (no idea how they got in there, but the fungus they need for growth must have been in the rose compost!

i don’t know if it’s officially frost proof but I’ve had it for about 6 years so I guess so.

I'll echo the advice of being mindful that you'll need to destroy whatever you plant if you want to take it out (or at least butcher the root ball with a sharp trowel).

Dropping a pot in is a great idea for ease, however it will restrict your options in terms of plant size, plus you'll need to water such a small pot militantly over the summer.

I'd go for filling 1/3 - 1/2 with spent compost, top up with decent stuff, then plant with fairly low cost options that you don't mind potentially destroying down the line...

Lavender, rosemary or grasses would look good (and they'd be pretty good low maintenance options when it comes to watering too).

My top tip for terracotta pots is to line the pot with old compost bags (ensuring space at the bottom for drainage), which reduces moisture loss during summer months. I also do the same with hanging baskets, sitting a 'skin' of compost bag into the coir lining and poking a few holes in for drainage (an additional advantage of doing this is that the coir lining doesn't rot/deteriorate as fast).

Another idea (depending on aspect) is to plant something like a fern, which would look fabulous (the fronds and overall shape would complement the curves of the pot).

Ooh, good tip about the compost bag lining, I have one here. I also have a deciduous fern that I was about to chuck out, but I would need to reduce the size of the rootball to get it in. Can I just do that with a carving knife?

Has anyone ever tried to grow a phlebodium outside? I'm obsessed by Flora Grubb's garden and she has a lovely one by her door, but I'm not sure it's tough enough for the UK climate.

Thank you for introducing me to Flora Grubb, what a beautiful garden.

Having seen the type of plants you like, you could try Senecio Angel Wings, a friend grows them in her garden (some in pots).

She gave me one but mine did not survive the winter 😞

How big is your small inner pot (it will probably have literage somewhere on the bottom)?

I have a pot not unlike that one and am going to line it with some leftover pond liner and put in a couple of pond plants that I have lurking around.

It's sooooo beautiful, isn't it? My garden is new, and I've been immersing myself online in beautiful gardens that feel wild. I also love these two:
https://www.gardensillustrated.com/gardens/town-and-city/explore-a-wildlife-friendly-meets-urban-london-garden/

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/gardens/planting-for-a-seaside-garden/

I'm aiming for more foliage than flowers, but I'm also trying to prioritise wildlife, and I'm not convinced a purely foliage garden does that.

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime , this pot will stand next to my container pond, so maybe something marginal/damp could work if I line the inside.