9 Low-Maintenance Poolside Plant Combinations
Try these low-care, low-mess plants for gorgeous tropical effects, year-round interest and privacy screening
The right foliage and flowers can transform a pool area into a lush, secluded backyard oasis. But choose your plants carefully – poolside gardens can also create messy leaf drop, clogged filters, and are often, once planted, tricky to dig up and change. Swimming pools can also create a microclimate in the backyard, raising humidity levels in warm climates and intensifying the sun’s rays to bake the garden. You also may find that plants nearby get splashed with chlorine.
All things considered, poolside planting beds are challenging ones to fill. Here are a handful of options for tough, largely mess-free and low-maintenance plants (plus a few worth the extra trouble) that not only can thrive in poolside situations but look beautiful.
All things considered, poolside planting beds are challenging ones to fill. Here are a handful of options for tough, largely mess-free and low-maintenance plants (plus a few worth the extra trouble) that not only can thrive in poolside situations but look beautiful.
In the evening, subtle uplighting highlights the trunks of the ficus trees and ribbed stems of the bamboo. All plants shown in this garden thrive in full sun and with moderate water.
See more full-sun gardens
See more full-sun gardens
2. Sculptural accents
Cactuses and succulents, such as agave, yucca and echeveria, make excellent poolside plants. They look good year-round with hardly any care, produce practically no mess, thrive in sunny conditions and are generally pretty tough when it comes to getting splashed by a bit of chlorinated water.
For the best effect, choose cactuses and succulents with interesting, sculptural forms like strappy, upright Mauritius hemp (Furcraea foetida) and finger-like blue chalk sticks (Senecio serpens). Planting them against a wall or near enough to the pool so their forms are reflected in the water will enhance the design’s graphic quality.
Top 10 Succulents for Subtropical Gardens
Cactuses and succulents, such as agave, yucca and echeveria, make excellent poolside plants. They look good year-round with hardly any care, produce practically no mess, thrive in sunny conditions and are generally pretty tough when it comes to getting splashed by a bit of chlorinated water.
For the best effect, choose cactuses and succulents with interesting, sculptural forms like strappy, upright Mauritius hemp (Furcraea foetida) and finger-like blue chalk sticks (Senecio serpens). Planting them against a wall or near enough to the pool so their forms are reflected in the water will enhance the design’s graphic quality.
Top 10 Succulents for Subtropical Gardens
3. Beach club style
For a chic, whitewashed resort look, the designer of this pool and planting in Sydney, NSW, Harrison’s Landscaping, combined white sandstone with a built-in planter filled with dark foliage plants. The contrast of the bronze foliage of the trio of magnolia trees and underplanting of giant lilyturf (Ophiopogon jaburan) against the white walls forms a stunning combination.
The magnolia thrives in full sun while the giant lilyturf appreciates some shade cast by the trees above. Both plants require little maintenance and are low-mess.
For a chic, whitewashed resort look, the designer of this pool and planting in Sydney, NSW, Harrison’s Landscaping, combined white sandstone with a built-in planter filled with dark foliage plants. The contrast of the bronze foliage of the trio of magnolia trees and underplanting of giant lilyturf (Ophiopogon jaburan) against the white walls forms a stunning combination.
The magnolia thrives in full sun while the giant lilyturf appreciates some shade cast by the trees above. Both plants require little maintenance and are low-mess.
4. Tropical colour punch
This bright orange accent wall and cascade of hot pink bougainvillea makes a colourful statement in a Miami, USA, backyard. While bougainvillea doesn’t quite hit our low-mess criteria for an ideal poolside plant, it’s worth picking fallen blossoms out of the pool for such a spectacular display of colourful flowers. Try to site it just back enough from the pool to cut down on the mess.
Bougainvillea thrive in baking sun and radiant heat placements – including walls next to pools – that would make many other plants shrivel.
This bright orange accent wall and cascade of hot pink bougainvillea makes a colourful statement in a Miami, USA, backyard. While bougainvillea doesn’t quite hit our low-mess criteria for an ideal poolside plant, it’s worth picking fallen blossoms out of the pool for such a spectacular display of colourful flowers. Try to site it just back enough from the pool to cut down on the mess.
Bougainvillea thrive in baking sun and radiant heat placements – including walls next to pools – that would make many other plants shrivel.
5. Tiered planting
If your pool is sited on a hillside, use the slope to inform the design of the pool and planting beds. In this Vancouver, Canada, backyard, the pool design incorporates an infinity edge to take advantage of the level change, and the planting beds of boxwoods (Buxus sp), a purple ground cover and lavender (behind the lounge chairs) are arranged in tiers. The overall effect is one of many layers of cooling blues, greens and purples. The plants all thrive in full sun and with moderate water.
If your pool is sited on a hillside, use the slope to inform the design of the pool and planting beds. In this Vancouver, Canada, backyard, the pool design incorporates an infinity edge to take advantage of the level change, and the planting beds of boxwoods (Buxus sp), a purple ground cover and lavender (behind the lounge chairs) are arranged in tiers. The overall effect is one of many layers of cooling blues, greens and purples. The plants all thrive in full sun and with moderate water.
6. Low-water, pollinator-friendly
This colourful sloped planting in a Northern California, USA, garden not only makes a dramatic backdrop for the pool but also supports native birds and insects. Immediately behind the water feature pouring into the pool, a row of blue-green Weber’s agave (Agave weberi) makes a structural statement against the first retaining wall for the slope.
Behind the agave, magenta-coloured ‘Garnet’ penstemon (Penstemon ‘Garnet’) and the yellow-flowering kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos sp) to the right would both be magnets for bees, butterflies and other insects and pollinating birds. All plants pictured grow best in full sun and with low water.
Safe and Sound: 11 Ways to Protect Native Wildlife in Your Garden
This colourful sloped planting in a Northern California, USA, garden not only makes a dramatic backdrop for the pool but also supports native birds and insects. Immediately behind the water feature pouring into the pool, a row of blue-green Weber’s agave (Agave weberi) makes a structural statement against the first retaining wall for the slope.
Behind the agave, magenta-coloured ‘Garnet’ penstemon (Penstemon ‘Garnet’) and the yellow-flowering kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos sp) to the right would both be magnets for bees, butterflies and other insects and pollinating birds. All plants pictured grow best in full sun and with low water.
Safe and Sound: 11 Ways to Protect Native Wildlife in Your Garden
7. Resort chic
This easy pairing of Alexander palms (Ptychosperma elegans) and confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) in a garden in Miami, USA, looks lush and tropical but doesn’t require much maintenance. Palms are a classic poolside plant – instantly making a mild-climate garden feel tropical.
The jasmine is a particularly useful poolside ground cover. It thrives in bright sunlight, benefits from the increased poolside humidity and can fill in as a dense ground cover in just two years. In spring, the plant is studded with white blossoms that will perfume the pool with a sweet fragrance.
This easy pairing of Alexander palms (Ptychosperma elegans) and confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) in a garden in Miami, USA, looks lush and tropical but doesn’t require much maintenance. Palms are a classic poolside plant – instantly making a mild-climate garden feel tropical.
The jasmine is a particularly useful poolside ground cover. It thrives in bright sunlight, benefits from the increased poolside humidity and can fill in as a dense ground cover in just two years. In spring, the plant is studded with white blossoms that will perfume the pool with a sweet fragrance.
8. Graphic grasses
Another opportunity to consider for a poolside planting is how you can use the surface of the water to create a reflection of the plantings. Some plants, like those with structural forms, such as agaves and upright ornamental grasses, look particularly dramatic reflected in water.
For this poolside planting in Vermont, USA, the landscape architect used a row of ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’) to create a beautiful reflection of tawny gold and greens on the dark surface of the pool.
Another opportunity to consider for a poolside planting is how you can use the surface of the water to create a reflection of the plantings. Some plants, like those with structural forms, such as agaves and upright ornamental grasses, look particularly dramatic reflected in water.
For this poolside planting in Vermont, USA, the landscape architect used a row of ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’) to create a beautiful reflection of tawny gold and greens on the dark surface of the pool.
The row of ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass also doubles as a light, airy privacy screen, separating the pool area from the larger garden.
True-Blue Native Plants That Do Us Proud
True-Blue Native Plants That Do Us Proud
9. Mediterranean mix
In this wine-country retreat, a poolside planting heavy on silver foliage and lavender blooms makes a lovely pastel backdrop. Many of the plants chosen are drought-tolerant, such as the olive trees (Olea europaea), dusty miller (Senecio sp.) and thyme. When blooming, the French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and thyme would also attract pollinators. All plants thrive in full sun.
Your turn
Which plants or trees have you successfully planted by your pool? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more advice to improve your great outdoors? Don’t miss Good Neighbours: How to Stop Your Outdoor Noise Travelling
In this wine-country retreat, a poolside planting heavy on silver foliage and lavender blooms makes a lovely pastel backdrop. Many of the plants chosen are drought-tolerant, such as the olive trees (Olea europaea), dusty miller (Senecio sp.) and thyme. When blooming, the French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and thyme would also attract pollinators. All plants thrive in full sun.
Your turn
Which plants or trees have you successfully planted by your pool? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more advice to improve your great outdoors? Don’t miss Good Neighbours: How to Stop Your Outdoor Noise Travelling
In this tranquil Melbourne backyard, a combination of fig trees (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii), clumping slender weaver’s bamboo (Bambusa textilis var. gracilis) and a low-growing ground cover looks effortlessly chic. To get a similar look, choose poolside plantings with interesting forms and foliage, saving colourful flowers for other areas of the garden.
Ficus offers the advantage of having little leaf-drop and filling in quickly to provide dense coverage – useful for creating privacy around a pool or covering a fence with green. Like all bamboos, slender weaver’s does exhibit some leaf-drop, but the designer, DDB Design Development & Building, has cleverly set it back from the pool for easy sweep up.
Find a landscape contractor or gardener on Houzz near you for advice on plants that will thrive in your garden