Egg & Round Pots

Measure the mouth, not the belly

Round pots are sold on their widest point, but the opening is what decides what fits. A 50cm egg pot commonly has a 32 to 38cm mouth, so it takes a 250mm or 300mm nursery pot, not the 400mm the headline number suggests. Check the opening measurement on the listing, and allow a few centimetres of clearance for your hands.

The shape has a second consequence. A plant grown for years in a true egg form builds a root ball wider than the opening, which means it cannot come out intact at repotting time. Either keep the plant in its nursery pot and drop it in, hiding the rim with pebbles or bark, or plant directly and accept that the eventual repot involves cutting the root ball down. The drop in method is the smart default for anything vigorous. Straight sided drums, tubs and bowls carry none of this baggage.

Where curves earn their place

Modern landscaping is a grid of straight lines: fence, deck, rendered wall, paving joints. A curved pot is the punctuation that stops the geometry feeling like a car park. Round forms work best in odd numbered clusters of three or five with the sizes staggered, a large egg at the back, medium and small stepping down in front. Hold one element constant across the group, the material or the colour, and let the sizes vary. Low bowls and tubs also make natural centrepieces for outdoor tables.

Materials and weathering

The choice runs the full spread of the pots and planters range. Terracotta eggs, including the Terracotta Egg Shaped Pot from $28.95, weather to a pale patina and breathe through their walls. Aged ceramic and stone art finishes give the weathered look from day one. Glazed ceramic holds deep colour and handles frost, terrazzo and lightweight concrete read contemporary and keep the weight manageable at large sizes. All of them live outdoors year round; see the outdoor pot collection for the full weather ready selection.

Planting and care basics

The rules are the same as any container, with one addition. Use a premium potting mix, keep the drainage hole clear by standing the pot on feet, and skip the gravel layer in the base. The addition: because the belly holds a larger reserve of mix than the opening suggests, egg pots dry out slower than straight pots of the same mouth size. Check moisture with a finger before watering rather than watering on schedule, especially in winter.

Common questions

Do round pots blow over in wind?

Less than most shapes. The weight sits low and the base is wide relative to the height, which is why ball and egg forms are a safer choice for exposed decks and rooftops than tall narrow planters.

What size should I buy for a cluster?

For a group of three, a spread of sizes about a third apart works: for example 60cm, 40cm and 30cm at the widest point. Identical twins side by side read as leftovers; deliberate size steps read as design.

Can I plant a tree in an egg pot?

Plant trees and large shrubs in drums, tubs or open bowls instead, or in the wide mouthed egg shapes from the large pot range. A tree in a narrow mouthed egg cannot be repotted intact, and vigorous roots can eventually stress the shoulder of the pot.

How are they delivered?

Delivered Australia wide, boxed and padded, with delivery from $29.95 and no minimum order. Curved forms are packed with extra padding around the shoulder.