Does it have a drain hole? 12 inches in depth is very small for a normal sized rose for any length of time - I would not plant any rose in it permanently except maybe a miniature, assuming it has drainage. Very cute though!

Will it survive outdoors in the WInter, or will you have to bring it in somewhere? If it were mine I think I would be tempted to plant some sort of blue bulbs in it - maybe two kinds, one that comes up in the Spring, and one in the Fall. Pls let us know what you decide!

Jackie

What Jackie said, plus, I'd put it where the pot is shaded most of the time. Ceramic is Corning Ware, a cooking utensil. If you're concerned about petals burning on hot afternoons, I'd also be concerned about roots cooking in that ceramic pot. It is cute, but it may not be suitable for that kind of plant, depending upon its placement. A mini may well be the best solution, or perhaps using it to grow on some of your own propagated roses until they're large enough to go into the ground. Kim

If it was my pot, I wouldn't plant in it. Instead, I'd put a plant in a plastic nursery pot inside it. If there are no drainage holes in the elephant pot, put a layer of gravel in first, and then rest a potted plant on that. If you really want to keep a rose in there, the rose would be best grown outside -- but I'd be afraid of what the weather might do to that pot.

Actually, the first thing that comes to mind as looking good in that pot would be a simple spider plant. I know others may disagree, but my brain finds two eye-catching parts of one thing to be confusing. With such a decorative pot, I'd prefer a simple plant. Roses with decorative flowers (to my eyes) look best in pots that are much more simple. Otherwise, the entire piece (pot + plant) seems made up of two parts each vying for individual attention, distracting from the composition as a whole. Since the pot was a Christmas gift, I would prefer to accentuate it with a simple plant, so people first say "my, what a beautiful pot."

:-)

~Christopher

What a thoughtful gift! I agree with the others about the need for a drainage hole, and the use of an inset pot if none is present. I also agree that it is too small for most roses.

If it were mine I would grow a plant that features attractive green foliage rather than something that flowered. Succulents or ferns come to mind. The pot is very decorative, a real focal point, so it needs something restful to complement it. You don't want the plant to compete with the pot.

Rosefolly

I had Pink Pet in a hanging basket for a couple of years. It did fine but I had to water it A LOT. Of course, drainage wasn't a problem in a basket.

Thanks y'all! I appreciate the creative input. I can see it with some funky succulents...I love all the suggestions.
There is good drainage and it is a hale and hearty planter...it was outdoors at some estate sale.
Susan

If it's not fiberglass or plastic, I doubt that planter will do well in a Nashville winter. Clay has to be baked at a really high temperature to be frost-proof.

I'd slip a Bird of Paradise plant in for scale (the biggest size whose pot will fit inside that pot, with maybe a few variegated Ivies for something to trail... or just mulch it with raffia. But you'd need to bring it all in, over winter.

If you must have a rose, I think Paul Barden has produced two in russet tones which would scheme with the browns in the pot. 'Beautiful Anne' and 'Dragon's Blood' are in the right hues. And the pumpkin/creme/apricot 'Golden Buddha' might be fun, too. It's exactly the right size plant, and as a rare Bracteata hybrid, it may love Nashville's hot summers. Rogue Valley Roses may be the only Barden retailer. Again, I'd underplant with ivies, to have something that will trail. But wouldn't Ice Plant be wonderful? It would work with the blue-green of the pot's lip, and hot sun would not be an issue, as it could be for ivy.