Planter systems allow for the raising, lowering, holding, locking and releasing of a planter on a vertical support structure. The planter assembly may include a carriage, to which one or more planters is attached. Guides such as cables, rollers, sliders, bristles, gaskets, carpet and registration pins maintain space between the vertical support and planter assembly and facilitate raising and lowering. A tether guided over a pulley may be retracted or extended by winding it around or unwinding it from a winch, cleat or windlass to causes the planter assembly to rise or descend. When raised to a locking height, the planter assembly causes a mechanical locking mechanism associated with the planter assembly to move into a locking position, securing the planter assembly to the vertical support. Further raising releases the locking mechanism. Attachable items such as banners, flags, hangers and the like may be coupled to the carriage. Optional irrigation supplies water to the planter assembly and/or surrounding terrain. The planter may be unitary or a plurality of assembled planter components or sections. Drain and cleanout ports facilitate draining and cleaning of the planter assembly. An optional waterfall embodiment includes a reservoir section with overflow ports to drain water into a lower reservoir at the base of the vertical support, from which a pump supplies the water back to the reservoir section of the planter assembly. A plurality of conduits for electrical, data and plumbing extend through the vertical support.