Pool Landscaping Ideas: Plants and Paving Around a Pool

Getting it right

Rule things out before you rule anything in. Avoid whatever sheds heavily, anything thorny near bare feet, and anything with aggressive roots within about 10 feet (3 m) of the pool. Choose light-colored paving with a textured finish, because dark stone becomes too hot to walk on in August, and keep a 2-foot (60 cm) clear margin the whole way round. Then plant in bold groups of three or five rather than a mixed border; a pool surround wants calm repetition, not variety.

Before and after

Top: before. Bottom: after. AI-generated illustrations of the idea; a design made from your own photo will look different.

How to plan it

Check the rules before you plant. Most US codes require a fence or barrier around a pool, often at least 4 feet (1.2 m) tall with a self-closing, self-latching gate, and nothing you plant or place should make it easier to climb. Keep shrubs and furniture well back from the barrier.

Group planting in a few larger beds set back from the water, and use pots for color near the pool, where they're easy to move and nothing drops in. Place screening, such as upright shrubs, windmill palms or a slatted fence, where it blocks the neighbors' view without shading the pool.

Pick paving that stays cool and grips when wet: light-colored, textured porcelain, limestone or travertine, or a composite deck. Light the steps and the pool edge for safety, and leave the electrical work around the pool to a licensed electrician.

Plants that work

Botanical names come first so you can order the right plant anywhere. Heights are for mature plants in the ground.
Plant	Type	Light	Water	Height	Hardy to
Windmill palmTrachycarpus fortunei	Tree · Evergreen	Partial shade	Moderate	10–26 ft (3–8 m)	5 °F / −15 °C
New Zealand flaxPhormium tenax	Perennial · Evergreen	Full sun	Moderate	5–8 ft (1.5–2.5 m)	14 °F / −10 °C
Lily of the NileAgapanthus praecox	Perennial · Semi-evergreen	Full sun	Moderate	2–3 ft (0.6–1 m)	18 °F / −8 °C
OliveOlea europaea	Tree · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	10–26 ft (3–8 m)	18 °F / −8 °C
English lavenderLavandula angustifolia	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	16–28 in (40–70 cm)	−4 °F / −20 °C
Mexican feather grassNassella tenuissimaInvasive in parts of the US. Check your state's list.	Grass · Semi-evergreen	Full sun	Low	16–24 in (40–60 cm)	−4 °F / −20 °C
Mondo grassOphiopogon japonicus	Groundcover · Evergreen	Partial shade	Moderate	6–10 in (15–25 cm)	5 °F / −15 °C
Blue fescueFestuca glauca	Grass · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	8–12 in (20–30 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Adam's needleYucca filamentosa	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	2–5 ft (0.6–1.5 m)	−13 °F / −25 °C
OleanderNerium oleander	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	5–10 ft (1.5–3 m)	18 °F / −8 °C
RosemarySalvia rosmarinus	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	2–5 ft (0.6–1.5 m)	10 °F / −12 °C
Star jasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides	Climber · Evergreen	Partial shade	Moderate	10–20 ft (3–6 m)	10 °F / −12 °C

Surfaces and materials

Porcelain pavers
Limestone pavers
Composite deck
Glazed pots
Shade sail
Uplighting
Slatted wood screen

Works well when

People walk on it barefoot
Summers are hot and dry
You want more privacy
You eat outside in the evening
You want low maintenance

Think twice when

Falling leaves are a nuisance
Winters bring hard, sustained frost
Young children play there

Common questions

What plants are best around a pool?

Clean, evergreen plants with little to drop: New Zealand flax, lily of the Nile, mondo grass, Adam's needle, rosemary, and windmill palm in mild climates. Grasses and spiky plants give a resort look without much litter.

What plants should I avoid near a pool?

Anything that sheds flowers, leaves, berries or seed heavily, plants with thorns or spines near walkways, and trees with aggressive roots near the shell. Also keep plants that attract lots of bees away from the water's edge.

Is oleander safe near a pool?

Oleander handles heat and splashed pool water well, but every part of it is highly toxic if eaten. Skip it if young children or pets use the pool area.

What is the coolest pool deck material?

Light-colored natural stone such as travertine or limestone, and light porcelain pavers, stay noticeably cooler underfoot than concrete, dark stone or wood.