The Best Trees, Shrubs & Plants Around Pools (And the Ones You'll Regret Planting)
A beautiful pool deserves beautiful landscaping. The right plants soften hardscapes, create privacy, add color throughout the seasons, and make your backyard feel like a private retreat. The wrong plants? They can clog your skimmer every afternoon, stain your pool deck, attract bees, damage plumbing with aggressive roots, or leave you sweeping leaves every weekend. The goal isn't simply to choose plants that look nice. It's choosing plants that will still make you happy five years from now. Here are a few things we encourage homeowners to consider before planting around a new pool.
First, Think Beyond Appearance
When most people visit a garden center, they naturally focus on color. For pool landscaping, there are several other questions that matter just as much. Ask yourself:
Does it constantly drop leaves?
Will it shed flowers into the pool?
Does it produce fruit, berries, or seed pods?
Does it attract bees or wasps?
How large will it become in ten years?
Are the roots aggressive?
Can it handle reflected heat from concrete and stone?
Is it drought tolerant?
A little planning now can save years of extra maintenance.
Great Trees for Around a Pool
Crape Myrtle
One of the most popular choices throughout Georgia.
Why homeowners love it:
✔ Beautiful summer blooms
✔ Attractive bark during winter
✔ Relatively compact root system
✔ Multiple sizes available
Keep in mind that flowering varieties do drop blooms for a short period each year, so placing them slightly away from the water is usually the better choice.
Southern Magnolia (Give It Space)
Magnolias are iconic Southern trees and create incredible shade.
However, they're best planted well away from the pool.
Those large leaves eventually fall—and they're not exactly skimmer-friendly.
If you love magnolias, enjoy them as part of the overall landscape rather than directly beside the water.
Japanese Maple
Perfect for creating visual interest.
Japanese maples provide beautiful seasonal color without overwhelming a space.
Because they're smaller trees, they're often easier to position without creating excessive debris.
Palms (Where Climate Allows)
Nothing says "resort" quite like palms.
Many cold-hardy palm varieties perform well throughout much of Georgia while creating a tropical feel with relatively little cleanup compared to many traditional shade trees.
Shrubs That Work Beautifully
Boxwoods
Clean.
Classic.
Evergreen.
Boxwoods provide year-round structure and pair beautifully with modern or traditional pool designs.
Distylium
If you've never heard of Distylium, it's worth learning about.
It's evergreen, drought tolerant, disease resistant, and requires very little maintenance once established.
It's quickly becoming a favorite among landscape designers throughout the Southeast.
Loropetalum
For homeowners wanting year-round color, Loropetalum adds beautiful burgundy foliage and spring blooms.
Choose newer varieties that fit your available space instead of those that quickly outgrow the area.
Podocarpus
Excellent for privacy.
This evergreen shrub creates soft screening without producing excessive litter around the pool.
Perennials That Love Poolside Conditions
Some of our favorites include:
Liriope
Agapanthus
Society Garlic
Daylilies
Salvia
Coneflowers
Black-Eyed Susans
These provide long-lasting color while tolerating heat and reflected sunlight from patios and pool decks.
Plants You'll Probably Regret
Bradford Pear
Fast growing. Weak branching. Constant debris. Many homeowners eventually remove them.
Sweetgum
Those spiky seed balls have probably already convinced you. Enough said.
River Birch
Beautiful tree. Terrible choice immediately beside a pool. Constant leaf drop becomes frustrating very quickly.
Fruit Trees
Fresh peaches sound wonderful. Rotting fruit in your pool does not. Fruit also attracts insects, birds, squirrels, and other wildlife that most homeowners would rather keep away from the pool area.
Bamboo
Unless it's a clumping variety specifically chosen for landscape use, avoid it. Running bamboo spreads aggressively and is extremely difficult to control once established.
Pine Trees
The needles. The cones. The pollen. Beautiful trees. Not ideal beside a swimming pool.
Don't Forget Privacy
Many homeowners initially think about landscaping from inside the backyard. Instead, walk to the neighboring properties. Look back toward your pool. That's often where you'll discover exactly where screening is needed. Strategically placing evergreen shrubs or ornamental trees creates privacy without making the backyard feel closed in.
Design for Every Season
The most beautiful pool landscapes don't peak for one month each year. They offer something interesting in every season. Evergreens provide structure during winter. Flowering shrubs bring spring color. Perennials brighten summer. Trees add texture and fall interest. When those elements are layered together, the landscape feels alive throughout the year—not just during swimming season.
The Best Landscape Is One That Fits Your Property
Every yard is different. The amount of sunlight, soil conditions, drainage, existing trees, and available space all influence what will perform best around your pool. At Cool Breeze Pools, we encourage homeowners to think about landscaping as part of the overall outdoor living design—not as something that's added after construction is complete. When the pool, hardscaping, lighting, and landscaping are planned together, the finished space feels natural, intentional, and complete. Because years from now, you probably won't remember the exact plant varieties you chose. You'll simply notice that your backyard feels beautiful, welcoming, and surprisingly easy to maintain.