Best Plants for Pool Areas
Low-debris choices: palms (Pygmy Date, Foxtail), ornamental grasses (Muhly, Fountain), succulents (Agave, Aloe), Bird of Paradise, and Plumbago. Avoid: deciduous trees near the pool, high-pollen plants, and anything with invasive roots.
Privacy Screening
Podocarpus, Clusia, Green Giant Arborvitae, and tall ornamental grasses create excellent privacy screens. For faster results, consider a living wall or tall planter boxes with bamboo (in contained planters only).
Hardscape Integration
Connect the pool deck to outdoor living areas with consistent materials. Use the same paver or stone for pathways, patios, and pool coping to create visual flow and make the space feel larger.
Lighting & Ambiance
Landscape lighting transforms the pool area at night. Path lights, uplighting on trees, down-lighting from pergolas, and in-ground well lights create layers of ambiance that extend poolside enjoyment.
Pro Tip
Plan landscape lighting during the design phase - running wiring after hardscape and planting is installed is expensive and disruptive.