Add ambience, color and fragrance to your backyard with these pool privacy plants and relax in your very own oasis.
10 Best Pool Privacy Plants to Perfect Your Outdoor Oasis
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Best pool plant for privacy: Arborvitae
These thickly attired evergreen shrubs stand upright and withstand neglect. Their height generally ranges from 8 to 12 feet, depending on the cultivar, although some can grow twice that height.
You can quickly create a wall of privacy with a row of these columnar shrubs. If deer or rabbit browsing is a concern, try an upright juniper instead. Grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 7.
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Best pool plant for a trellis: Mandevilla
This twining vine adds a tropical flair wherever it’s planted. Mounded forms can grow in pots or hanging baskets, while more vigorous cultivars can climb an obelisk, trellis or fence. The brightly colored climbing flowers, which appear all summer, are in hues of red, pink and white.
Mandevilla is hardy in Zones 10 and 11. Elsewhere, you can grow it as an annual or cut it back in fall and let it overwinter in a cool basement, where it will go dormant until spring.
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Best pool plant for durability: Diervilla
One of the best privacy shrubs for pools, this tough, flowering plant is resilient, taking dry weather in stride and even bouncing back from accidental trampling. It’s also about as adaptable as shrubs come, accepting anything from full sun to full shade, although foliage color and flowering are better with more sunlight.
Kodiak is a popular line of diervilla in various colors, reaching three to four feet tall and slightly wider. Grow in Zones 4-7.
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Best pool plant for a tropical look: Elephant Ear
Also known as taro or Colocasia, the elephant ear plant has large, heart-shaped leaves reminiscent of that familiar pachyderm. The tropical jungle-like leaves really stand out, especially in newer cultivars that feature unique colors and variegation.
In Zones 8-10, the elephant ear plant can be grown in the ground as a landscape plant. In colder regions, treat it as an annual or potted plant and bring it inside before frost. Alternatively, you can dig up the tubers and store them in sawdust in a cool, dry basement for the winter, replanting in spring.
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Best pool plant for sound: Quaking Aspen
One of the best trees for poolside privacy, its spade-shaped leaves flutter in the slightest breeze—hence the name—adding a pleasant sound and one that has a psychologically cooling effect. Also called trembling aspen, this beautiful poplar isn’t messy like its cousins. And it has a special beauty, with smooth, pale bark and outstanding golden fall foliage.
If space is at a premium, there are columnar aspen cultivars available. Grow in Zones 1-7. Quaking aspen is a great tree to consider for any yard.
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Best pool plant for fragrance: Russian Sage
It’s big, it’s bold and it’s fragrant to boot! As the name suggests, Russian sage has silvery gray foliage that has a fresh, sage-like scent. The light purple flowers are lovely and long-lasting.
Although it grows four to five feet tall and sometimes flops without support, Little Spire is just two feet tall and will remain upright without help. Either way, you get the nice fragrance and the cold hardiness one might expect of a plant with Russian in its name—in this case, Zones 5-9.
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Best pool plant for show: Hibiscus
There’s tropical hibiscus for Zones 9-11 and perennial hibiscus for Zones 4-9, and both boast large, bright, tropical-looking flowers in showy, bright colors throughout summer. Even better, Northern gardeners can grow the tropical hibiscus in a container and take it inside when nighttime temperatures go below 50 F.
There’s even a shrub hibiscus that can reach 12 feet tall—perfect for those who want showy flowers and privacy.
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Best pool plant for color: Zinnia
Take your pick, because these annual flowers come in colors ranging from yellow, orange and red to pink, purple, lavender and white. There’s even green!
Zinnias are super easy to grow—from seed or transplanted as nursery plants. Plus, they bloom all summer and attract tons of butterflies. Use one- to three-foot bedding zinnias as edging plants or taller three- to five-foot zinnias as pool garden centerpieces.
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Best pool plant for a container: Lantana
Here’s another double-duty plant, because lantana not only looks great in a pot, but lends bright color and intriguing fragrance to its surroundings, making it one of the best plants for pool decks. A vigorous perennial or even shrub in warm climates, lantana is grown as an annual in the North, where clusters of butterfly- and hummingbird-attracting flowers cover it all summer.
It comes in a range of bright colors—yellow, orange, pink, red, white, purple—and blushing multicolors. It grows in Zones 8-11.
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Best pool plant for edging: Dwarf Blue Fescue
At less than a foot tall, Elijah Blue is one of the shortest ornamental grasses, so it makes a good edging plant. Its blue-gray foliage, mounding habit and buff-colored plumes make it especially attractive when massed. And it’s a great companion for colorful perennials like Rudbeckia, Echinacea, daylily and salvia. It’s also drought tolerant. Grow in Zones 4-11.
FAQ
How do you care for pool privacy plants?
Proper care ensures your pool privacy plants remain healthy, vibrant and effective screens.
- Soil preparation: Good drainage is crucial for most plants, especially near pools where soil can become compacted. Amend the soil with organic matter as needed. If you’re potting plants, use a high-quality potting mix.
- Watering: While many poolside plants are chosen for drought tolerance, new plantings will need regular watering to establish. For low-maintenance pool landscaping, you can use either drip irrigation or a hose.
- Chlorine and salt tolerance: Select plants known for some tolerance to occasional splashes of chlorinated or salt water (if you have a saltwater pool). Rinsing foliage with fresh water after heavy splashing can help. The Town of Weston, MA, advises dechlorination and pH balancing before draining pool water onto landscaping.
- Debris management: Choose plants that are not prone to excessive leaf, flower or fruit drop to keep your pool cleaner. Regular light pruning can also minimize debris.
- Root control: When planting larger trees and shrubs in the ground, be mindful of root systems. Avoid planting species with aggressive invasive roots close to pool structures or plumbing. Root barriers can be installed if necessary.
- Fertilizing: Feed plants according to their specific needs. Container plants will typically require more frequent fertilization than those in the ground.
- Pest and disease control: Regularly inspect plants for signs of pests or diseases. Healthy, well-cared-for plants are generally more resistant. Address issues promptly using the least toxic methods first.
How do I maintain privacy around my pool with greenery?
Use a layered approach. Plant taller trees or large shrubs as a backdrop, then add medium-sized shrubs or ornamental grasses in front. Incorporate evergreen species for year-round screening. Consider the plants’ mature height and spread, and space them accordingly to create a dense, continuous barrier over time. Regular pruning helps maintain density and shape.
What are low-debris plants for pool areas?
Evergreens like Arborvitae, Juniper and Boxwood are generally low-debris. Many ornamental grasses shed minimally. Palms like Pindo Palm are cleaner than many deciduous trees. Avoid trees that drop a lot of small flowers, fruits or fine leaves. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension provides lists of plants suitable for poolside landscapes, noting that cacti succulents and plants pollinated by animals (showy flowers) tend to be cleaner.
Are there privacy plants that thrive in all climates?
No single plant thrives in all climates. Choose plants suited to your specific USDA hardiness zone, sun exposure, soil type and moisture conditions. Check plant tags or consult local nurseries for the best options for your region.
Sources
- Integrity Pools: “Enhancing Pool Privacy: Expert Tips”
- Integrity Pools: “Explore Pool Landscaping Ideas”
- University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: “Gardening in Containers Using Tropical Plants”
- Town of Weston, MA: “10 Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Yard”
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: “Plants for Poolside Landscapes”
- University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions: “Poolside Plants”
- Almanac.com: “Deer-Resistant Plants, Flowers, and Shrubs”
- Better Homes & Gardens: “25 Ornamental Grasses for Adding Tons of Texture to Your Garden”
- BlueHaven.com: “Pool, Patio & Backyard Privacy Solutions”
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: “USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map”
