Terracotta Egg Shaped Pot

This Terracotta Egg Shaped Pot is made from natural clay in a rounded, tapered egg form, unglazed and left in its raw earthy tone. It comes in four sizes from 250mm to 500mm. Terracotta remains the best material for anything that hates wet feet: the porous wall lets air and moisture move through rather than trapping water against the roots.

Why you'll love it

• Clay that breathes. Porous walls allow airflow and moisture movement around the root ball, which suits plants that rot in a sealed pot.
• A drainage hole as standard. Built in, so water leaves the base instead of collecting and turning the mix sour.
• Natural tone, no two identical. Fired clay varies slightly in colour and texture from pot to pot, which makes a group look collected rather than bought.
• Four sizes, one shape. The same egg profile scales from a small entry pot to a 500mm feature.

Sizes and what fits in them

Soil volumes are approximate and account for the rounded, tapered base.

• 250mm. 24cm across and 23cm high, about 6 to 8 litres. Herbs and compact outdoor plants.
• 310mm. 31cm across and 31cm high, about 18 to 22 litres. Feature plants and small shrubs.
• 400mm. 40cm across and 40cm high, about 45 to 50 litres. Shrubs and small trees.
• 500mm. 50cm across and 43cm high, about 75 to 85 litres. Established shrubs and small trees with room to stay put.

Material, weathering and drainage

Material. Natural terracotta with an unsealed clay finish. Rinse or brush it clean as needed. Clay is heavier than fibreglass or composite, so the 500mm is a two person lift once planted.

Outdoors. Specified for outdoor use rather than indoors, and suitable for outdoor conditions generally. Unglazed terracotta weathers with age and picks up a patina, which most gardeners regard as an improvement.

Drainage. Drainage holes are included and the porous wall assists as well, so this pot dries faster than a sealed one. Expect to water more often in summer, particularly in the smaller sizes. No saucer is supplied.

What to expect when it arrives

Pots ship empty, without soil or plants, and no liner or insert is needed. Set the pot on a stable, level surface before planting, and give a new terracotta pot a soak first so the dry clay does not immediately draw moisture out of fresh mix. Even the 250mm gives a herb enough root room for a season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95.

Related pots and planting

• The full terracotta range
• Other egg and round shapes
• Succulents and cacti that suit porous clay
• Watering pots without drowning them