About us

Inspirational design, manufacturing excellence

Classic Garden Elements is a leading manufacturer of high-class garden metal garden archways and metal garden planters. We owe our success to a range of luxurious products which combine distinctive design with the highest standards of craftsmanship.  While Britain’s historical gardens have been the source of our inspiration, we have also travelled the east coast of the United States and continental Europe in search of the best design ideas. Our company logo, an Etruscan pinecone now on display at the Vatican Museum in Rome, symbolises our commitment not just to elegance and harmony, but also to simplicity and practicality. In delivering the best gardening solutions, we have worked with leading British and European rose breeders and built on feedback from our customers, so you can be sure to find inspiration as you browse these pages. Why not buy online a gazebo shrouded in fragrant English roses? A pergola reminiscent of Italy’s vineyards? Or a leafy garden archway to stroll under with a very special soulmate? We’ll be happy to help you create the garden of your dream.

The founders

Classic Garden Elements was founded over 20 years ago by journalist Otto Duris and lawyer Johannes Dietrich, two rose lovers living near Frankfurt. Their gardening hobby unexpectedly led them to a new career. From its small beginnings two decades ago, the company has become a leading manufacturer of high-end metal garden arches and metal trellis planters.

Start-up in a niche market

Our story begins in 1998 when we were searching for exclusive metal gazebos and pergolas for our hillside garden. There were just two basic products on offer: traditional care-intensive wooden structures and rust-susceptible metal imports from the Far East. Neither seemed fit for purpose. We realised that if we wanted something that was attractive, but also stable and durable, we would have to make it ourselves. With just a few basic designs in hand, we approached Jozef Duris, a relative of Otto’s who runs a metal works in Slovakia. In no time, we got the metal pergolas we had wanted. We were so pleased with them that we began to suspect we had a product that other gardeners would like. And so Classic Garden Elements was born. After starting production, we exhibited at garden fairs all over Germany. The echo was overwhelming as gardening magazines across Europe acclaimed our combination of English design and German quality. We had found our very own market niche. 

RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Peter Beales Roses

Three years later, at the 2001 Hex Rose Festival in Belgium, Classic Garden Elements made an international breakthrough. One morning, two visitors came by our stand. They were Richard Beales and Ian Limmer of Peter Beales Roses in Attleborough. Impressed by our ‘very British-looking’ garden obelisks, rose arches and Victorian arbour, they invited us to exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show. Just a year later, we were celebrating our Chelsea premiere as the first German exhibitor to take part in the event. Three years further on, in 2005, we received the Certificate of Merit, the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest award for exhibitors of garden structures. Soon after our first appearance at Chelsea, we were receiving orders from the United States, Japan and from other overseas customers. Today we export across the globe and have branches abroad in cooperation with our partners. Our clients include private individuals, museums, parks, golf courses and hotels as well as companies in many other sectors.

A wide choice of exquisite, high-quality product. Buy online

Classic Garden Elements is renowned across Europe for its classical steel garden arches, pergolas, arbours and garden planters. Our products are designed for gardens, parks, patios and rooftop terraces. They include a wide range of standard or customised metal rose arches, trellis planters, rose obelisks, metal railing, trough planters, wall trellises, gazebos, rose arbours and Versailles planters. Since 2001 all of our items are available for easy online shopping. Buy our Metal Garden Arches & Structures and Pergolas here.

Classic Garden Elements products are known for their high-quality craftsmanship. All of our garden structures, such as our garden arch with gate, are manufactured inhouse of welded heavy steel band and tubing and are hot-dip galvanised and powder-coated to protect them against rust. They come with a 10-year rust-free guarantee.  Whether rose arch, garden obelisk or metal gazebo,  they stand out for their exceptional design. Our philosophy – to combine elegance with craftsmanship – is summed up in the simple beauty of the Etruscan pinecone we have chosen as our company logo. A pinecone finial tops our garden obelisks, rose arbours and arches, rose gazebos and pergolas.

Enduring commitment to design and quality

Today Classic Garden Elements make over 150 exclusive, sophisticated products for gardens, parks, patios and rooftop gardens. Among them are the ‘Garden obelisk I’ and ‘Rose obelisk II’, two products we launched back in 1998 and which are still bestsellers in Europe, the United State and Japan. And they also include recent creations like the ‘Rudolf Geschwind’ and ‘Jean Vibert’ plant supports, both inspired by rose supports from Vita Sackville-West’s garden at Sissinghurst. What connects all of our products is our commitment to exquisite design and quality craftsmanship. We continue to search for inspiration, both in the great parks and gardens of Britain and Europe and in numerous historical publications. And we are constantly in dialogue with rose breeders, garden architects, designers and garden owners in our quest to create the best garden archways, garden planters, pergolas and arbours – products which are at once distinctive and decorative, practical and durable, with a timeless aura ideal for both modern and traditional gardens.