Pompeii Opium Jar Planter

The Pompeii Opium Jar Planter is a bellied ceramic jar, hand crafted and double fired, carrying the black and white volcanic texture that runs through the Pompeii range. It is made in three sizes, from 41 x 35cm up to a 95 x 80cm piece that reads as sculpture even unplanted. The shape is the reason to choose it: a wide shoulder drawing in to a narrower mouth, so the jar holds its own in a courtyard without a plant doing the work.

Why you'll love it

• An object, not a container. The classic jar profile still looks finished standing empty beside a pool or path.
• Hand applied volcanic finish. The black and white texture is worked by hand, so each jar carries its own marbling.
• Double fired ceramic. Two firings build density into the body, which matters in a piece this size outdoors.
• Drainage already there. Every size arrives with drainage holes, so there is no drilling into fired ceramic.

Sizes and what fits in them

Outside dimensions, diameter by height. The mouth is narrower than the belly, so match the root ball to the opening.

• 41 x 35cm. A single compact plant, a clipped ball, or an empty accent on a paved terrace.
• 69 x 60cm. A substantial shrub, a mass of succulents, or a strappy plant that spills over the shoulder.
• 95 x 80cm. Floor standing scale for an entry or courtyard. A small tree or large architectural plant suits it.

Material, weathering and drainage

Material. Hand crafted, double fired ceramic. The texture sits in the surface, not on top of it, and varies piece to piece.

Outdoors. This one is made for outdoor positions. We hold no frost rating for the finish, so in hard frosting districts give it a sheltered spot.

Drainage. Keep the holes clear and raise the jar on feet so water escapes freely. Cover the holes with a single layer of fibreglass flyscreen, never fabric or geofabric, which clog. Add a 50mm layer of 10mm gravel, then a premium potting mix rather than garden soil. Choose plants suited to containers: aggressive roots can damage any planter.

What to expect when it arrives

Jars ship empty and packed to travel alone, with dispatch in 2 to 5 business days. Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. The 95 x 80cm size needs several people and a firm level base, so prepare the position first.

Related pots and planting

• See the full urn and jar range
• Extra large pots for courtyards
• Using planting to shape an entrance
• Plants that do well in containers