You can't plant anything but fake items in the top because when it rains, they get beat to death even with a rain chain and soil/plants fall out because the "pot" part is too shallow.  We had to drill holes in that part for drainage so the water would not set and soak the plants. Also, the back of the barrel, where the indention is, bows out when the barrel is full and it fills up VERY quickly even with a little rain.  One cracked with 2 fills and cannot be used.