Bowl Planters

(10 products)

A bowl planter is wide where a pot is tall, and that changes what it is for. These are the low, broad forms we carry, sized for seasonal planting, low arrangements and the places a tall vessel would block a view.
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Low bowl planters, and where a *shallow* form is the right one

A bowl is not a short version of a pot. The proportion is the product: broad enough to read as deliberate, low enough to look over, and shallow enough that what goes in it is chosen for the season rather than grown on for years.

A bowl keeps the sightline open

Beside a seating area, along a pool edge or on a terrace wall, a tall planter interrupts the view and a bowl does not. That is usually the whole reason one gets specified, and it is why bowls turn up in pairs flanking something rather than standing alone.

Shallow suits seasonal planting, not trees

The interior depth here is short by design, which suits annuals, succulents, grasses and low evergreen arrangements that are replanted rather than grown on. For anything with a substantial root ball, the tree and large outdoor collections are the right places to look.

Wide and light, which is unusual

A broad, shallow vessel in stone or concrete is heavy out of proportion to what it holds, because the material sits in the walls rather than the volume. In hand-laid composite the same form stays movable, which is what makes a large bowl practical on a terrace or a roof deck.

Related: round planters, patio and balcony planters, rooftop and pool deck planters and large outdoor planters.

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Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What should I plant in a low bowl?

Anything with a shallow root system and a spreading habit: succulents, alpines, seasonal annuals, low grasses, or a single sculptural specimen with room around it. The interior depth is published per size, and it is the number to check a plant against before buying either.

Does a shallow planter dry out faster?

Yes. Less soil volume means less water held, and a wide surface loses more to evaporation than a narrow one. Plan for more frequent watering than a deep pot of the same diameter, or choose planting that suits it.

How does drainage work in a bowl?

Holes are not pre-cut by default, because interior installations, liner-based schemes and planters standing over a finished surface often need to stay sealed. We drill drainage free of charge on request, to the manufacturer's published guidance on hole size and spacing. Cutting outside that guidance is not covered by warranty, so ask us rather than improvising.

Can a bowl be used as a water feature?

The form suits it, and people do use them that way. It needs sealing and it is outside what the manufacturer's guidance covers, so it is a modification you are making rather than a use the planter is sold for. Do not cut drainage holes if that is the plan.

Can bowls stay outside all year?

They are made for outdoor use. A shallow bowl left with standing water through a hard freeze is the one case to watch, because water expands as it freezes and a wide, shallow vessel gives it nowhere to go. Drain it or turn it over.

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