Cubes and squares
Square Corten steel planters
A square Corten steel planter puts one plant on show (an olive, a Meyer lemon, a Japanese maple, a clipped boxwood) or, set out in a line, gives a deck or a yard its rhythm. Cybèle starts at 400 × 400 × 400 mm (16 × 16 × 16 in) and goes up to 1400 mm (55 in) a side.
Square planter prices and weights by model, size for size
The table lines up squares that are as tall as they are wide (the 1200 mm square tops out at 1000 mm high) and shows which model comes in each size. Prices are for the base finish, our signature patina. Weights are the empty weights listed on each product page, and volumes are outside volumes.
At the smallest cube, the two Cybèle versions are $20 apart ($2,700 and $2,720). From 800 mm (31 in) a side, your choice comes down to the 2 mm Cybèle, which sits flat on the ground, or Thalie, which stands on legs.
| Size | Outside volume | Cybèle 2 mm | Cybèle 1.5 mm | Thalie on legs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 × 400 × 400 mm (16 × 16 × 16 in) | 64 L (17 US gal) | $2,700, 13.7 kg (30 lb) | $2,720, 13.7 kg (30 lb) | not available |
| 500 × 500 × 500 mm (20 × 20 × 20 in) | 125 L (33 US gal) | $3,000, 21 kg (46 lb) | $3,020, 21 kg (46 lb) | not available |
| 600 × 600 × 600 mm (24 × 24 × 24 in) | 216 L (57 US gal) | $3,390, 29.6 kg (65 lb) | $3,430, 29.6 kg (65 lb) | $3,480, 29.7 kg (65 lb) |
| 700 × 700 × 700 mm (28 × 28 × 28 in) | 343 L (91 US gal) | $3,900, 40 kg (88 lb) | $3,950, 40 kg (88 lb) | not available |
| 800 × 800 × 800 mm (31 × 31 × 31 in) | 512 L (135 US gal) | $4,460, 52 kg (115 lb) | not available | $4,630, 54.7 kg (121 lb) |
| 1000 × 1000 × 1000 mm (39 × 39 × 39 in) | 1000 L (264 US gal) | $6,310, 85.1 kg (188 lb) | not available | $6,370, 83.5 kg (184 lb) |
| 1200 × 1200 × 1000 mm (47 × 47 × 39 in) | 1440 L (380 US gal) | $7,750, 105.4 kg (232 lb) | not available | $7,830, 103.7 kg (229 lb) |
How big a square planter for a tree or a shrub
Size the cube from the root ball, as the plant arrives from the nursery: the planter should be clearly wider and deeper, so there is a layer of soil all around the roots and under them. A young olive or a citrus in a nursery container fits a cube of 600 to 800 mm (24 to 31 in); a more established tree calls for 1000 mm (39 in) a side or more. Plan for growth, too: repotting a tree that sits in 500 kg (about 1,100 lb) of soil is a real undertaking, so the larger cube is often the better first choice.
Height is about the look as much as the roots. A low cube, 400 mm (16 in) high, acts as a base for a plant that spreads; a tall square, 800 to 1000 mm (31 to 39 in) high, raises the foliage and leaves room for a trailing plant to spill over. Cybèle 2 mm does both, from 400 to 1400 mm (16 to 55 in) a side and from 400 to 1000 mm (16 to 39 in) high. When height is the priority, our tall Corten steel planters cover the column sizes.
- Cybèle 1.5 mm: 7 sizes up to 700 mm (28 in) a side, including 400 × 400 mm (16 × 16 in) and 500 × 500 mm (20 × 20 in) columns that stand 1000 mm (39 in) tall.
- Thalie: squares from 600 to 1400 mm (24 to 55 in) a side, raised on four corner legs that hold the planter off the ground.
- Maïa: 800 × 800 × 300 mm (31 × 31 × 12 in) at $3,400 or 1200 × 1200 × 300 mm (47 × 47 × 12 in) at $4,530, split into compartments that keep herbs, perennials or vegetables apart.
Square
Our square Corten steel planters
Cybèle in 2 mm steel (27 sizes) and in 1.5 mm steel (7 sizes), Thalie standing on four corner legs, and Maïa, a low square split into compartments.
Cube planters on porches, steps, decks and in larger yards
A matching pair of cubes on either side of a front door, a porch, a gate or a set of steps frames the entrance. Scale the cube to the opening: for a front door, 500 to 700 mm (20 to 28 in) a side is a common choice. Along a walkway or the edge of a deck, repetition carries the design: three, five or seven cubes of one size, evenly spaced, set a rhythm that a continuous planter cannot, and keep the view open between the plants.
For a freer layout, combine two heights with the same footprint, for example 600 × 600 × 400 mm and 600 × 600 × 800 mm (24 × 24 × 16 in and 24 × 24 × 31 in): the sides stay in line and the difference in height adds depth. In a larger yard, the bigger squares, 1000 to 1400 mm (39 to 55 in) a side, hold their own against open lawn and wide paving. Set the planters in place while they are empty: once filled, they stay where they are.
On a raised deck or a rooftop, keep in mind that a filled cube weighs far more than the empty steel. Have the structure checked before you choose the larger sizes.
Patina, rust runoff and the deck under a square planter
We apply the Cortenys signature patina in our workshop, so every cube arrives already weathered, and its color keeps shifting with sun and rain. Water running down the four sides can leave a rust-colored ring around the planter on light concrete, pavers or stone.
A protective varnish is available as an option on all four models. The protective varnish greatly reduces runoff, but even varnished, Corten steel can still stain the floor: set the cube on small feet, shims or a saucer, edge it with a strip of gravel, or stand it on a dark paver. Thalie, up on its legs, limits contact between its wet base and the surface below. Our guide to Corten steel care and rust stains covers these steps.
Square, trough or bottomless: picking the right Corten shape
A square frames a single plant; for a hedge or a continuous border, our Corten steel trough planters are the better choice. If the cube is going straight into the ground, Rhéa keeps the square shape with no base, among our Corten steel bottomless planters. Squares from 1000 mm (39 in) a side are compared on the page for large Corten steel planters, and every shape is laid out across our Corten steel planters.
Cortenys
Frequently asked questions
How big should a square planter be for an olive tree?
Pick a cube clearly larger than the root ball your plant comes in, in width, depth and height. For a young olive in a nursery container, a cube 600 to 800 mm (24 to 31 in) wide and high is a good place to start; a mature tree needs 1000 mm (39 in) or more. Your nursery can confirm how much room the roots will need.
Should I pick the 2 mm or the 1.5 mm Cybèle square planter?
The 2 mm Cybèle comes in 27 sizes up to 1400 mm (55 in) a side and costs less at the same size ($2,700 vs. $2,720 for 400 × 400 × 400 mm, or 16 × 16 × 16 in). The 1.5 mm Cybèle comes in 7 sizes up to 700 mm (28 in), with a slimmer profile.
What sets the Thalie square planter on legs apart from Cybèle?
Thalie stands on four built-in legs that leave an open space under its base; Cybèle rests flat. At the same size Thalie costs a little more, for example $3,480 vs. $3,390 for 600 × 600 × 600 mm (24 × 24 × 24 in).
How many cube planters do I need to frame a porch or an entry?
A matching pair is enough, one on each side of the door. For a wide entry or a set of steps, two pairs in different heights (for example 600 × 600 × 600 mm and 600 × 600 × 800 mm, or 24 × 24 × 24 in and 24 × 24 × 31 in) add depth and keep the symmetry.
Why does the Maïa square planter have compartments?
They divide the inside of the square into separate beds: each plant keeps its own soil, you water one bed at a time, and you can replant one without disturbing the rest. Maïa comes in 800 × 800 mm (31 × 31 in) and 1200 × 1200 mm (47 × 47 in), both 300 mm (12 in) high.
Do you make a square Corten planter with no bottom?
Yes, Rhéa, for planting in contact with the ground. You will find it among our Corten steel bottomless planters. On a deck, a patio or pavers, choose a square with a base.
Will a varnished square Corten planter still stain my deck or patio?
It can. The protective varnish greatly reduces runoff, but even varnished, Corten steel can still stain the floor. The varnished finish costs a little more ($3,450 instead of $3,390 for the 600 × 600 × 600 mm Cybèle 2 mm), and either way it is worth protecting the surface: shims, a saucer, a gravel strip or a dark paver under the cube.
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.