9 Best Plants Around Your Pool: Sustainable Australian Landscaping Tips
If you’ve recently installed a pool, or about to have one installed, you’re probably thinking about what plants will bring your new paradise to life.
Australia’s sun can be harsh and if you’re not a green thumb, choosing plants which require a lot of maintenance and water isn’t a good idea.
Being able to leave your garden without fear of it dying; dropping lots of leaves in your pool; or costing a bucket load of money in water use is a smart move and one that will pay off in the long run.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled our top 9 attractive, yet low maintenance plants to plant around your pool.
Key Takeaways: Pool-Friendly Plants
- Native Australian plants like Lilly Pilly offer excellent privacy screening with minimal maintenance
- Drought-resistant options such as Agaves and succulents thrive in pool environments with little water
- Plants with non-invasive root systems prevent damage to pool infrastructure and plumbing
- Low-debris plants like Bamboo and Star Jasmine reduce pool cleaning frequency
- Tropical varieties including Frangipani and Bird of Paradise create resort-style atmospheres
- Proper plant placement considering mature size and growth habits ensures long-term success
The ideal plants for around your pool should be drought-resistant, have non-invasive root systems, and drop minimal debris. They should also withstand occasional splashes of chlorinated or salt water while adding beauty to your outdoor space. Let’s explore the best options for Australian pool owners!
What to Look for in Pool-Friendly Plants
- Native to your local area
- Non-invasive root systems that won’t damage pool infrastructure
- Drought tolerance to minimize water usage
- Low leaf/flower drop to reduce pool maintenance
- Salt/chlorine tolerance for plants near splash zones
- Full sun tolerance for the Australian climate
- Low maintenance requirements for hassle-free poolside enjoyment
1. Lilly Pilly: The Perfect Australian Privacy Screen
The Lilly Pilly is a fast growing Australian native evergreen plant that offers excellent privacy when planted closely together.
This versatile plant has become really popular for poolside vegetation because it looks great and has various practical benefits.
With glossy leaves ranging from bright green to burgundy depending on the variety, Lilly Pillys provide year-round backyard-enhancing visuals while acting as a natural barrier between your pool area and your neighbors.
Why Lilly Pillys?
Most Lilly Pilly varieties have non-invasive root systems that won’t damage your pool infrastructure. Their lightweight leaves are easily captured by pool skimmer boxes if they fall, making maintenance simple. Once established, they need very little water, which is perfect for our Australian climate. You can shape them through pruning to maintain your desired form, and they produce attractive berries that add visual interest to your pool area. Professional landscapers often recommend Lilly Pillys because they respond well to hedging and can be maintained at heights from 1 meter to over 4 meters, depending on your privacy needs.
Benefits: Most Lilly Pilly varieties have non-invasive roots and provide excellent privacy when planted an appropriate distance apart. Leaves are attractive and given they are lightweight, will typically be drawn straight to your pool’s skimmer box. Once your Lilly Pilly is established, they require regular but little water.
Drawbacks: Prone to salt and chlorine damage if splashed regularly. Be careful to plant your Lilly Pilly far enough away from your pool as the berries can end up in your pool. They can be susceptible to aphids.
Lilly Pilly Pool-Side Planting Tips:
Can be damaged by regular salt and chlorine splashes: Just plant your Lilly Pilly far enough from your pool to avoid these splashing issues.
It has berries, so make sure to keep them at a distance where the berries won’t easily fall into your pool.
Popular varieties include Syzygium australe ‘Resilience’ and Acmena smithii ‘Minor’, both of which offer excellent disease resistance and compact growth habits ideal for pool surroundings.
For best results, chat with your local nursery about which Lilly Pilly varieties are best suited to your specific backyard and pool conditions
3. Tropical Frangipani: Discover Poolside Paradise
Plant agaves if you are after eye-catching leafy symmetry and drought hardy, low maintenance plants around your pool.
Benefits: Grows easily in a variety of situations including garden beds and pots. Once established, the Agave can go for weeks and even months without water. They are easy to transplant and can be propagated from cuttings. Save money by asking your neighbours if they have any Agave shoots they can share.
Drawbacks: Agaves prefer full sun/part shade, so if your location is in complete shade, they may not be suitable. For your pool area, make sure you choose varieties without thorns or prickly-edged leaves. Agaves prefer well drained soil (heavy clay or overly wet soil is not suitable).
3. Tropical Frangipani: The Essence of Poolside Paradise
This tropical garden plant is a small tree with attractive, leathery leaves and sweet-smelling, waxy blooms that will burst out from Spring/Summer. For best results (flowers, growth), plant in a well-drained sunny location.
Benefits: Nothing feels more tropical than a tropical frangipani. Can be grown easily in pots or garden beds. Requires regular but little water in the warmer months. Can be propagated from existing plants. The tropical frangipani features a compact and non-invasive root system, making it the perfect choice near your pool.
Drawbacks: Frangipanis can sometimes suffer from fungal diseases. They also shed their foliage meaning large leaves can end up in your pool.
Frangipani Plant Maintenance Tips:
- Allow space to your pool as it can ‘branch out’
- Have a trusted auto swimming pool cleaner such as a Kreepy Krauly to pick up its fallen leaves.
- Use our pool selector tool to find the best Kreepy Krauly pool vaccum for your swimming pool!
4. Viburnums: Versatile Screening Plants for Pool Privacy
Viburnums come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. From colourful berries and foliage, to showy flowers and stunning fragrance, Viburnums have the bases covered.
Benefits: All Viburnum shrubs are hardy and can make the perfect hedge/privacy screen. Spring flowers add a fragrant perfume to your pool area. Can be hedged and will tolerate dry conditions.
Drawbacks: Requires pruning for optimal results. Can attract bees (be careful to plant away from walking areas).
Vibernums Plant Maintenance Tips:
- Speak to your local plant nursery about which is the best variety for your specific Australian location.
5. Star Jasmine: Fragrant Climbing Beauty for Pool Fences
Star jasmine is a vine that produces beautiful white fragrant flowers in the warmer months.
Benefits: The vine makes the perfect screen to block out that ugly fence or wall. It can also be grown as a ground cover. It has stunning, fragrant flowers which bloom enmasse creating a relaxed and calm atmosphere around your pool area. It has non invasive roots and will tolerate hot and dry conditions.
Drawbacks: Drops flowers. Can attract bees (be careful to plant away from walking areas). Like most vines, it can ‘take over’ if not maintained properly.
Star Jasmine Maintenance Tips:
Install a trellis to encourage the growth where you want it to go. Trim in the cooler months to encourage more flowers in Spring.
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Summary On Easy-Care Australian Plants For Poolside Sustainable Landscaping!
And this list of 15 is only partial.
There are many more, so do make sure to look local and source a native plant as these would benefit your backyard and locale habitat (solitary bees, little germinating critter friends, neighboring companion plants, etc.) the most.
Creating a beautiful poolside paradise in Australia requires careful plant selection. With our harsh sun and unique climate, you need plants that won’t create maintenance headaches while still looking amazing.
The right plants can transform your pool area into a tropical oasis without constant work or worry about damage to your pool. Thoughtful sustainable landscaping not only enhances the look of your outdoor swimming area, but also makes it more enjoyable for years to come.
Get Started Planting Low Maintenance Plants Around Your Pool!
Always speak to your local plant nursery to make sure you are planting the best plant for your local conditions.
A beautiful pool garden will always require some maintenance and leaves and flowers will inevitably end up in your pool. To select the right pool cleaner for your conditions, jump on our handy pool cleaner selector guide.
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