Most people arrive here having tried both obvious options. The pretty wicker pot that sagged after one summer. The practical garden planter that added nothing to the doorway.

What separates the Sonoma is its hidden liner, fully integrated and invisible from the outside. The weave passes over it seamlessly, so all you see is the warmth and texture of a handwoven basket. What you do not see is the reason it can sit outside without soaking through, staining or losing its shape.

In practice that means no black nursery pot on show, and no compromise between how a planter looks and how it copes with soil, watering and rain. It is a rattan planter you can plant into, water and leave in place, which is a very short list of things a wicker pot can usually do.

Size is the decision most people get wrong, almost always by going too small. As a rule, the planter should be roughly a third of the height of the plant it holds.

All heights include the handle. Group all three in graduating sizes for a display that looks intentional rather than accidental.

Symmetry is what makes an entrance feel considered. Two large planters holding matching olive or bay trees, one either side of the door, is the highest impact change you can make to the front of a house.

If your doorway only allows one side, group three in graduating sizes instead. Tallest at the back, smallest at the front, staggered rather than in a line.

One species per planter, repeated, reads as expensive. Mixed bedding in every pot reads as busy. Structural evergreens in the large, softer seasonal colour in the small.

A layer of decorative moss or bark over the compost hides the mechanics and lifts the whole thing. A small detail doing a disproportionate amount of work.

The lining makes this an outdoor planter first, but a great many Sonomas never leave the house. Indoors it works as a cover pot for a large houseplant, a hallway planter for a faux olive tree, a log basket beside a fireplace, or generous storage for throws in a snug.

If you use it inside for real plants, keep the plant in its nursery pot and sit it on a saucer within the basket rather than planting directly. Watering stays tidy and you can swap the plant seasonally without disturbing anything. For dedicated indoor storage, see baskets and storage.

The Sonoma is handwoven, so its lifespan outdoors depends on how exposed it is to British weather and the small amount of care it gets across the year.

To prolong its life: avoid prolonged standing water, raise it slightly off wet ground with pot feet or a paver, and bring it in during severe winter weather. Brush the weave occasionally to lift dust from the crevices. The liner protects the inside when planting, but the weave itself will gently soften and mellow over time as it would on any country porch.

Current delivery timing for this item is shown above. Full details are on our delivery page.

If the size is not right once it is on the doorstep, our returns policy is straightforward, and everything is covered by our guarantees and warranties.

Planting up a hotel entrance, a holiday let or a project? Ask about trade accounts before you order in quantity.