When Gardens closed in 2010, it left a void in Austin for a source for high-quality terracotta pottery. Landscape architect Jackson Broussard, who owns and operates Sprout, decided to fill that void by importing Italian Impruneta pots — the finest terracotta available — and selling them via open house sales a couple of times a year.

Jackson recently invited me to visit his holding yard, and I jumped at the chance to see his inventory of pots, as well as his stone quarry finds and custom metalwork, which he uses in his designs and in his own beautiful garden displays.

What a bonanza! He is stocking a lot of pots of all sizes, and their classic shapes, especially the square and cylindrical ones, would work in either traditional or contemporary gardens.

If you grow succulents and cactus, you probably know that terracotta pots “breathe” in a way that lets the soil dry out between waterings, just the way these plants like it. But terracotta can be fragile, and low-fired pots from Mexico can crack in freezing weather and need special protection. Italian Impruneta terracotta is not like this.

As Sprout’s website says:

“Impruneta, Italy is the home of terracotta in Europe. The location is so tied to terracotta clay that an official legal seal is needed to call any pot Impruneta. The seal tells the owner their pot was forged of 95% Impruneta clay, which is the strongest clay in the world. The strength of the clay makes these pots frost proof and well insulated in heat as well.”

According to a recent Garden Design article about Impruneta pottery, various families in the region have been operating pottery-making studios for generations. It’s truly an art form.

The square tile is a drain grate. Jackson uses these decoratively in his own garden.

Jackson carries two different types of Impruneta pottery, one a paler blush-pink color, the other more burnt orange (perfect for all you UT fans).

Lots of sizes and shapes too.

Poggi Ugo Impruneta seal

When I mentioned how good our cacti and other Western plants look in terracotta, Jackson pointed out that Tuscany, Italy, resembles Central Austin in its rugged, scrubby hill terrain, so it makes sense that their pottery visually works for us too.

Inside a shipping container, Jackson keeps a stash of smaller pots.

I bought one of these for my own garden, and Jackson generously donated another one to the raffle at the upcoming Austin Garden Bloggers Fling, which I’m helping to organize.

I like these square pots with flower insignias too.

On the other side of the holding yard, there’s an assortment of intriguing objects, like custom steel tables and found objects Jackson makes into artful firewood holders or fire rings.

Imported basalt stone “dishes” are ready to be turned into water-filled basins that reflect passing clouds. You can see one of these in my tour of Jackson’s own garden (4th picture from the top).

Jackson also has access to an old stone quarry, where he literally picks up cut stone blocks off the ground and sells them as small plinths or pedestals for pots or other decorative objects. I bought a few of these and am using them to elevate pots in a tabletop display.

Jackson’s inventory is open to the public twice a year via open house sales. He also opens the holding yard by appointment (for a minimum purchase; inquire at Sprout for details). You can follow Sprout Terracotta on Instagram.

Update 8/21: Jackson no longer operates Sprout, but you can find him online at JPB Design Studio.

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