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Are you looking to create your own botanical garden oasis by your pool? You’re in the right place as we’ve got the best ideas for pool plants!
We have curated the following guide, showcasing the best plants for swimming pool landscaping that will undoubtedly transform your outdoor space into a lush retreat.
Whether you’re seeking low-maintenance plants, verdant foliage, or vibrant flowering plants, our thoughtfully crafted list has all kinds of recommendations suited to a range of preferences! Here are our top 12 picks:
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#1 Frangipanis
Enhance your poolside ambiance with the delightful presence of frangipanis, characterised by their adorable holiday-vibe flowers and expansive, glossy leaves. These botanical wonders not only contribute to the exotic charm of your outdoor space but also emanate a deliciously sweet and fragrant scent that creates a resort-like atmosphere.
Unlike most flowering plants that only bloom for days/weeks, you can enjoy the full bloom of this floral shrub for many months!
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Clusters of large vibrant star-shaped flowers coupled with long and wide dark green leaves.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green-thumbs.
- Native To: Mexico and Australia.
- Care:
- Frangipanis don’t need any watering during cooler months, but will need routine hydration during spring and summer.
- They thrive in full sun, and need well-drained soil to prevent root rot.
- Because they are susceptible to fungal growth, ensure they are protected from rain during wet seasons. They appreciate regular application of a slow-release fertiliser.
- Pet Safety: Keep away from pets and small children.
#2 Heliconias
Nicknamed ‘Lobster Claws’ for their distinct bright red claw-shaped flowers, heliconias make an exquisite botanical statement that’s certain to catch the eye! These unusual, vibrant plants will infuse your pool area with endless character, while fostering a tropical aesthetic appeal.
In the right conditions, these striking plants can thrive more or less independently, making them wonderfully low-maintenance.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Large and vibrant pointy flowers surrounded by large, banana-like green leaves.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green-thumbs.
- Native To: Central and South America, and the South Pacific.
- Care:
- Enjoy basking in full sun.
- Need a regular watering schedule, ensuring soil is kept continuously moist.
- Require well drained soil.
- Thrives in tropical and subtropical humid climates, but can’t tolerate the cold.
- They do well with organic fertilisers.
- Pet Safety: Keep away from pets and small children.
Similar Plants
#3 Calathea lutea
Calathea lutea, also known as the ‘Cigar Plant’, boasts large glossy green leaves and elegant long stems, making it an ideal choice for contemporary poolside landscaping.
Not only do the giant leaves provide excellent shade that’s perfect for lounging under, they also shed minimally and are too big to clog up your pool filter, ensuring a clean and aesthetically pleasing poolside hang out.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Long thin stems topped with large fanning glossy green leaves.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green thumbs.
- Native To: South America.
- Care:
- Thrive in part shade — also tolerate full morning sun and shade in evenings.
- Allow the top inch of soil to completely dry out before watering.
- Need rich and well-drained soil.
- Only use a balanced fertiliser with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium for this plant.
- Pet Safety: Non-toxic to most household pets, including cats and dogs.
#4 Hen and Chicks
Featuring a mesmerising symmetrical rosette shape arrangement in a bold assortment of colours, hen and chicks are charming succulents that will undoubtedly embellish your pool area with natural elegance.
Not only are these pool plants a delight to admire, but they’re also remarkably resilient and low maintenance! They can thrive in both humid and dry weather and will go into semi-dormancy during colder seasons. They also aren’t fussy about soil and will pretty much thrive in any kind of garden bed as long as there’s a good amount of drainage.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Centre rosette formation (the ‘hen) surrounded by smaller symmetrical rosettes (the ‘chicks’). It often features sage green, bright pink, orange, and purple colours.
- Best For: Beginner green-thumbs.
- Native To: Europe and Africa.
- Care:
- Grow hen and chicks in full sun for optimal colours.
- They also enjoy shade – especially in hotter, dryer climates.
- They’re drought-tolerant, meaning they require minimal watering.
- They respond well to slow-release fertilisers formulated for succulents and cacti.
- Pet Safety: Non-toxic to most household pets, including cats and dogs.
#5 Star Jasmine
Star jasmine makes sensational swimming pool landscaping editions. They serve as enchanting decorative accents and can also be used to enclose your pool area for extra privacy.
The ethereal appearance of these pristine white flowers will infuse serenity and relaxation into your pool area while also adding a fragrant hint of aromatherapy.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Glossy dark green leaves coupled with whimsical white star-shaped flowers.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green-thumbs.
- Native To: Eastern and southeastern Asia.
- Care:
- They love soaking up full sun and enjoy part shade.
- They need regular watering, ensuring the soil stays moist – water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- They like to be fed a long-term slow-release fertiliser.
- Pet Safety: Non-toxic to most household pets, including cats and dogs.
#6 Mother In-Law Tongues
Mother-in-law Tongues make stunning poolside editions. Their sturdy, upright leaves feature a unique striped pattern with a bold yellow outline, adding a charming touch of character to your outdoor space. These low-maintenance beauties are also easy-going and thrive in both sun and shade, making them perfectly suited to a diverse range of poolside environments!
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Large upright green striped leaves with yellow outlines.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green thumbs.
- Native To: Nigeria.
- Care:
- Prefers indirect sunlight.
- Low watering demand — only needs a top up when the soil is completely dried out.
- Appreciates a balanced multi-purpose fertiliser during the growing season.
- Pet Safety: Keep away from pets and small children.
#7 Murraya Hedge
With thick bushy foliage topped with dainty white flowers, the pretty murraya hedge is ideal if you’re hoping to improve the privacy of your pool area. Because of its density, this evergreen hedge can be planted around your sunbathing area and pool to create a modest and tranquil environment.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Dense green foliage with tiny white flowers.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green thumbs.
- Native To: East and Southeastern Asia.
- Care:
- Requires regular watering — especially during dryer, hotter months.
- Prefers full sun and partial shade.
- Drought-tolerant.
- Enjoys a balanced, multi-purpose fertiliser.
- Pet Safety: Non-toxic to most household pets, including cats and dogs.
#8 Silver Falls
With cascading silver foliage that imitates a majestic waterfall, silver falls make a magnificent poolside accompaniment. Its trailing beauty adds a touch of elegance and drama, creating a visually captivating atmosphere that’s as soothing as it is beautiful!
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Long cascading branches with circular shaped silver-green leaves.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green thumbs.
- Native To: Central and North America.
- Care:
- Flourishes in full sun.
- Ensure soil is completely dry before watering.
- Loves being fed a compound mineral fertiliser every two weeks during the growing season.
- Pet Safety: Non-toxic to most household pets, including cats and dogs.
#9 Cousin It
With long, shaggy foliage, Cousin It is a characterful evergreen shrub that will look stunning beside your poolside stepping stones and border! Not only do these quirky ground cover plants looks fabulous, they also serve as effective weed inhibitors, making them great for anyone seeking a low-maintenance garden.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Shaggy, green cascading foliage that grows low to the ground.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green thumbs.
- Native To: Australia.
- Care:
- Enjoys full sun.
- Requires minimal watering during colder months, and routine watering during warmer season to ensure soil remains moist.
- Tolerates most soil types but prefers well-drained and slightly acidic soil.
- Can be planted anytime.
- Tolerates drought and mild frost.
- Use a slow-release fertiliser during spring.
- Pet Safety: Keep away from pets and small children.
#10 Mondo Grass
Mondo grass is a tough, easy-growing plant that adds a subordinate dimension of subtle greenery to poolsides. This dainty, ornamental grass is perfect for those hoping to achieve a sleek, minimal, and contemporary pool area aesthetic.
You can get as creative as you like when placing mondo grass, as it fits virtually anywhere! For instance, you can frame your pool by placing it all around the edge or in between patio tiles for distinctive separation.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Slender, low-growing dark green, and sometimes even black, foliage growing close together, forming dense clumps. During the summer, they bloom tiny white and lilac flowers.
- Best For: Beginner and intermediate green-thumbs.
- Native To: South America
- Care:
- Need to be watered around 1-2 times a week.
- They can tolerate a range of lighting, including full sun and shade.
- They are drought-resistant, making them well-suited to hot, dry climates.
- They are light feeders and only need to be fed a slow-release shrub and tree fertiliser in early spring.
- You can also use organic plant food as an alternative.
- Pet Safety: Non-toxic to most household pets, including cats and dogs – animal urine can kill mondo grass, so it is best to keep animals away.
#11 Banana Tree
Featuring a proud, towering trunk with charming oversized verdant leaves, a banana tree will effortlessly transform your swimming pool area into an exotic haven.
Some varieties of banana trees, including the giant highland banana tree, can grow leaves to a staggering four feet long, making them fabulous shades for cooling off, turning every poolside moment into a tranquil, tropical escape.
Beyond the delightful appearance of these trees, they also produce fruity treats! After around 18 to 3 years of growth, you can expect to see home-grown bananas sprouting from suckers at the base of the mother plant.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Tall, elegant tree-like stems with oversized, lush, dark green leaves.
- Best For: Intermediate and experienced green-thumbs.
- Native To: Asia, Africa, and Australia.
- Care:
- Most varieties are best kept in full sun, while some species can scorch easily and should be partially shaded.
- They need regular watering and misting to quench their thirst and maintain a moist environment.
- They are heavy feeders and need to be fed a balanced fertiliser throughout the growing season.
- Pet Safety: Most varieties are non-toxic to pets, but always double-check the species you choose.
#12 Hawaiian Hibiscus
Hawaiian hibiscus are iconic tropical flowers that add a burst of exotic splendour to poolside landscaping. These sun-loving floral plants are in full bloom throughout the warmer months, so you can admire their vibrant beauty throughout the swimming season!
Beyond their lush charm, Hawaiian hibiscus can also be trimmed into a hedge, creating an enclosed swimming pool oasis that will transport you to the serene seclusion of a remote tropical island.
Plant Profile:
- Appearance: Dark green oval-shaped leaves with lively, large flowers and a bold protruding style, typically red and yellow.
- Best For: Intermediate and experienced green-thumbs.
- Native To: Asia and Pacific Islands.
- Care:
- Enjoys exposure to full sun and needs to be protected from the wind.
- Requires frequent watering and mulching before applying fertiliser, especially during hotter months.
- Appreciates being fed a controlled-release fertiliser supplemented with composted cow manure.
- Pet Safety: Most varieties are non-toxic to pets, but always double-check the species you choose.
What To Consider When Choosing A Tree Specimen for Your Pool Plants
When planting a tree specimen by your pool, be sure to think about these key ares:
- Leaf Drop: Ensure your chosen tree has minimal leaf drop (and other tree debris) — the last thing anyone wants is to clean pots of seeds, fruit, dead flowers, leaves, and other plant and tree debris from the pool filter!
- Root System: Check whether the tree has a shallow root system as they can enter your pool’s pipe system and cause cracks in the concrete.
- Container vs. In-Ground: Check whether the tree can grow in large containers, (preferably on wheels to follow or protect from sunlight), or is suitable for in-ground planting.
- Poolside Aesthetic: Does your the selected tree reflect the aesthetic theme of your outdoor space?
- View: Always research full growth size to check if the tree will block your view at full maturity.
FAQs about Pool Plants:
For safety reasons, you should avoid placing plants with thorns or needles, such as firethorn and bottlebrush, in your poolside garden beds, as these present a safety hazard. For maintenance reasons, you may also choose to avoid plants that shed, such as cherry and plum trees.
Succulents, palm trees, and cordylines are fantastic pool-friendly plants that rarely drop leaves. Adding these botanical beauties to your swimming pool area means you won’t need to worry about fishing leaves out of your pool.
