Luxury Corten steel furniture
Corten steel planters
Corten steel planters for gardens and terraces.
Square, trough or corner: choosing Corten steel planters with a base
Square planters and long troughs
Cybèle, a deep cube, marks a doorway or holds a Japanese maple, while Déméter, a trough planter from 900 to 2000 mm long, runs along a terrace and lines up ornamental grasses or bamboo. Both come in two sheet thicknesses, always stated on the product page. In 1.5 mm the folds stay fine and the weight modest: Cybèle runs from 400 to 700 mm square, Déméter from 300 to 400 mm wide. In 2 mm the sides stay flat under the push of damp soil, which suits a tree or an extra large planter: Cybèle reaches 1400 mm square, Déméter 600 mm wide or 1000 mm high.
Corners, compartments and legs
Iris, a right-angled triangle in 1.5 mm Corten, tucks into a corner or against a wall, and two of them joined along their long side form a square. Maïa, in 2 mm, divides a low volume, 300 mm high on an 800 or 1200 mm square, into regular compartments: one species to each, watered and replanted without disturbing the rest. Thalie, raised on four integrated legs, is also made in 2 mm; its corner legs lift the planter and help water run off beneath it, in square or long formats up to 2000 mm.
Drainage on a patio
Water must never stand in the base of a planter: a drainage layer under a geotextile membrane stops wet soil sitting against the steel, as long as excess water has a way out. On paving, a base laid flat holds water underneath, so discreet spacers help the air circulate and the steel dry. In full sun the metal warms up like any dark metal, and a thick geotextile lining keeps the roots cool. For planting straight into open ground, see our bottomless planters Rhéa and Gaïa; to punctuate a path or an entrance, our Corten steel pots; and for every criterion, How to choose a Corten steel planter.
FAQ
Can a row of Corten troughs screen a terrace?
Yes. Lined up and planted with bamboo, ornamental grasses or shrubs, Déméter troughs form a screen of greenery that frames a terrace, follows a path or divides two spaces without closing them off. For the tallest planting, choose the 2 mm version, which runs up to 2000 mm long and 1000 mm high.
Is a Corten planter box too heavy for a balcony or roof terrace?
It depends on the structure. Once planted, most of the weight comes from wet soil rather than steel, so have a professional confirm what the balcony or roof can bear before you install large volumes. Cybèle, Maïa, Déméter, Thalie and Iris also exist as powder-coated aluminium planters: a 1400 mm Thalie, 800 mm high, weighs 54.6 kg in aluminium against 105.6 kg in Corten steel.
Which Corten planter suits a tree?
For a tree on a terrace, such as a birch or a Japanese maple, choose a deep Cybèle in 2 mm steel, up to 1400 mm square and 1000 mm high: the thicker sheet keeps its faces flat under the weight of damp soil. Where the tree can root in open ground, Rhéa, our bottomless square planter, leaves the tree's roots free to grow down into the soil.
Corten steel planters / The models
Our selection of Corten steel planters
Discover pieces designed to live outdoors beautifully for years.
Luxury Corten steel furniture
The spirit of the collection
Compare shapes, sizes and drainage details to find a planter suited to your space.
How to choose a Corten steel planterCortenys
Advice and design: Corten steel planters
01 / Advice
Corten steel planters
Corten steel planters for gardens and terraces. Compare shapes, sizes and drainage details to find a planter suited to your space.
02 / Advice
Corten steel pots
Corten steel plant pots, from the round cylindrical Callisto and slim Clio to the tapered Calypso and flared Daphné. Compare silhouettes and sizes.
03 / Advice
Corten steel raised beds and bottomless planters
Bottomless Corten steel planters for raised beds on open ground. Compare square and rectangular models and check installation details.
04 / Advice
Thalie Corten steel planter on legs
Thalie, a square Corten steel planter on legs. Explore the dimensions and installation details for your garden or terrace.
05 / Advice
Sizes and placement
Compare the footprint, height and weight listed on each product page. Leave room for use and maintenance. Bespoke dimensions need to be assessed before ordering.
06 / Advice
A natural patina
Weathering steel develops a warm patina that changes with exposure. Runoff may mark pale surfaces. A protective clear varnish is optional on selected models; even varnished, Corten steel can still leave rust run-off and stain pale floors and terraces.
07 / Advice
Care and delivery
Follow the care instructions for the piece and avoid trapped moisture at its base. Check the stated lead time, delivery terms for your country and access to the intended position.
08 / Cortenys
Planters that give the terrace its structure
Déméter edges a pool with white hydrangeas; Thalie, a square planter on legs, raises a lemon tree above the paving.
Corten steel planters / Perspectives
In their setting.
Made to order
The time each piece deserves.
From your order to your space, every stage is carried through without shortcuts, with the rigour of true workshop craft.
6 to 12 weeks
Preparation
Included in the total lead time
Your order is checked down to the smallest detail, then prepared for the workshop.
Making
Included in the total lead time
Your piece is made for you by a partner manufacturer in Europe, with no finished goods held in stock.
Cortenys signature patina
5 days
One day of application on the Corten steel in the workshop, then four days for the patina to set and be inspected, piece by piece.
Delivery
Included in the total lead time
After a final inspection, transport is arranged to the agreed destination.
We deliver standard pieces, including Cortenys Editions, in 6 to 12 weeks after order confirmation. For bespoke pieces, we allow 8 to 13 weeks, with the schedule stated in the quotation.
Cortenys
Corten steel planters: frequently asked questions
What size of Corten steel planter should you choose?
Start with the plants: their growth at maturity sets the volume of soil required. Then check the weight of the planter once filled, the load capacity of the surface and the space to move around it.
Which sizes are available?
Each product page lists the available dimensions and options. Bespoke sizes require an assessment.
Can Corten steel stain paving?
Runoff can carry patina residue. Protect pale paving and check whether the model offers an optional protective varnish, which greatly reduces runoff without ruling it out.
How should I prepare for delivery?
Check the terms for your address, access routes and the handling equipment needed for your chosen piece.
Is Corten steel painted?
Cortenys keeps the natural patina of Corten steel. An optional protective clear varnish is available on selected pieces; even varnished, Corten steel can still leave run-off and stain floors and terraces, so we recommend protecting pale surfaces.
A particular project in mind?
A dimension, a finish, a word of advice. The House is by your side, with the care it brings to every one of its pieces.
Cortenys collections