Filling a Clawfoot Tub with Flowers

Hi all,
I still consider myself an amateur at gardening, though I have had a lot of success with some tougher projects. I have been given a clawfoot cast iron/porcelain bathtub and I want to fill it with flowers.

The tub has one drain hole in the bottom and should slightly slope to the drain when filled with water. There are feet on the tub raising it off the ground. I will put it on the porch (concrete, north facing). I plan to fill this tub with potting soil and plant something in it (not sure what I'll plant just yet).

What is the best way to go about filling the tub with soil, to facilitate drainage? Rocks, yes or no? Other materials? I hate to consider drilling holes in the bottom, but could make this happen if necessary?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

I would think perhaps larger rocks at the bottom and before the bottom soil line use smaller rocks(trap rock?). I would think with the amount that would be needed it would create nice drainage. Maybe place a lightweight landscaping cloth over the rocks so the soil doesn't wash down through the rocks and possibly plug up your one hole.

I would use styrofoam peanuts or busted up styrofoam along with the gravel/rocks. About 6' deep. And do use the landscaping cloth too - that is really important.

My father used to refinish claw foot tubs and they had one at the end of the drive with a wonderful arrangement of annuals. They did fill the bottom with crushed stone, old crushed pots, etc. They did not drill through the tub. Honestly-I don't think they used landscape cloth either, but you could...as others said..to prevent soil from clogging the drain. Depending on the plants you want and how deep they need to be..I'd fill the tub 1/2 way with course material and the other 1/2 with soil. Those tubs are pretty deep. Have Fun!

Would love to see pics when it is all planted. :-)

Wow guys THANKS for all your helpful responses!!!! I did not think of the landscaping cloth and I have some extra that I had not used. This will be really pretty once I get it filled.

I use my old claw foot tub in my seed dtarting area!! I fill it full of my potting mix (pro-Mix)
wet it and I can turn it with a shovel!! I love using it! I like your idea of planting it up. i would use screen material or a coarse used metal 'scrubbie' they sell for use in you kitchen to clean plates.
( like a steel wool pad but out of aluminum I think) Put that in the whole and then i would definately use gravel, at least a foot of it. OR you could put styrofoam from packing material in the bottom and then get some large pots to fit in the tub. It will enable you to change the flowers easier.
It will allow you to pull up the plants to store if they grow out of their zone. It lightens the tub for moving it. ( otherwise the soil can get mixed with the gravel) that is unless you put the gravel in onion bags so you can pull it out of the soil easier. You could also put foam peanuts in onion bags to use in the first foot of the tub!! I plant in all kinds of things too.
This tub would make a great herb garden right on your porch. Many herbs look great mixed with vegetables or annuals! I can't wait to see it.
i have an old wash tub and no one ever guesses what it is until the winter.
I put an wire trellis in the middle of my wash tub and i grow vertical vines in the middle of the tub.
It gives an eye applealing vertical lift!
I will get some pics. this year.
Julie