10 Unusual Planter Ideas To Add Charm And Character To Your Garden

Move over, terracotta pot – here are our new favourite flower vessels...

Year after year, gardeners up and down the country try to conjure new and imaginative ways to replenish and upgrade their own green spaces.So far, 2025 has been the year of creative, out-of-the-ordinary gardening and outdoor living. We now favour affectionately-dubbed ‘messy’ gardens over neatly-trimmed lawns, inviting in new plant varieties and even giving weeds some room to grow. As domestic outdoor spaces become less formal and our imagination runs wild with them, perhaps it comes as no surprise one of the season’s biggest trends is outdoor bathing. In the last two weeks, The Times declared that outdoor bathtubs are “summer’s 2025 status symbol”, while The English Home hailed the mental and physical benefits of alfresco tubs and showers. Essentially it seems we’re binning the gardening rulebook. So, to continue in the vein of extraordinary garden ‘furniture’, we’ve collated 10 unusual-yet-charming ways to showcase plants and flowers – for a garden with a bit more personality...

You might not want to jump on the outdoor bathing trend, but a tub in the garden can be used in more than one way. Metal tubs or even vintage ceramic ones make for wonderful planters, as they offer plenty of room for roots to grow, are sturdy and usually have a drainage hole.

Baskets don't just come in handy for Saturday markets. Wicker or palm leaf baskets, like the ones pictured, exude a certain charm that might just add a little magic to your garden. With plants spilling from them, they evoke the mysterious allure of an enchanted wild garden, where nature reclaims what's been left behind.

Pictured: Open Weave Nesting Baskets from Bohemia

For a splash of colour and a touch of whimsy, why not repurpose an old pair of boots or wellies as planters?

Their size makes them ideal for smaller spaces like steps or windowsills – and being waterproof, they’re perfectly suited to life outdoors, no matter the weather. Prefer something a little more polished? Dibor’s colourful ceramic flower pots, shaped like a classic pair of wellies, offer the character without the mud.

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Old urns instantly bring a touch of fairytale magic to your outdoor space. Depending on the material, their weathered stone or time-worn patina conjure images of secret gardens and gothic churchyards. Use them to give your garden a sense of mystery and romance.

When you think about it, almost any large vessel can be repurposed for bedding plants. Here, a vintage milk churn steps into a new role as a charming planting pot. Its tall, tapered shape lends itself perfectly to showcasing trailing blooms and upright cottage favourites. With its weathered metal, it adds a touch of rustic heritage to the garden.

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Enamel tea jugs are another wonderful way to introduce charm and colour to your outdoor space. Repurpose them as a flower pots or small planter to bring a touch of vintage character to patios, steps or garden shelves. The more aged and weathered (think chipped paint and faded patterns) the more enchanting they become, so don't worry about leaving them outside year-round.

The natural beauty of flowers has the potential to make almost anything shine in their presence – even a rusty old bucket. Let your imagination guide you, and you'll be surprised how many unlikely objects make for charming planters.

Here, an old bucket containing coral-coloured blooms turns a tired water pump into a striking garden feature.

If you've ever been to Amsterdam, you'll know that the Dutch love their bikes – both as a means of transport and as an accessory.

Taking inspiration from our neighbours across the channel, why not repaint an old bicycle and display plant pots on its rack, basket and pedals. Maybe even let a climber wind its way along the bike's frame and spokes...

Few gardening tools are associated with plants as much as the humble watering can, so it only made sense to include it in this list.

Possibly better suited as a flower pot than a planter, it adds instant charm and character to your garden, whether perched on a step or tucked between flower bed. Admittedly, you might have to invest in a replacement, but it's a small price to pay for such a simple, eye-catching display.

Offering ample space for a mix of plants, wheelbarrows are another garden tool that can easily be turned into a planter or even container.

Their generous size makes them perfect for bigger and more refined floral displays, and thanks to their wheels, you can easily position them to catch the sun, shade or rain depending on the plants' needs.

Wanda Sachs is the Daily Writer for House Beautiful and Country Living, exploring the latest in interior design, home trends, property news, wellbeing and sustainable living. With a keen eye for style and a passion for storytelling, she previously served as an Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she launched and led the magazine’s monthly style vertical, covering emerging fashion trends. Wanda holds a combined BA in English and German from Goethe University Frankfurt.

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