Best Plants Around Your Florida Pool (privacy and beauty)

There are a lot of things you need to consider when you are planning the landscape around your pool.

You want plants that won’t drop a bunch of debris into the water, clogging your filter. You need plants that can tolerate direct sunlight since your pool is probably in a very sunny area of your yard and the water in your pool will reflect even more sun onto your plants.

You want plants that add beauty to the tranquility of your pool. And you likely want your plants to add a layer of privacy around your pool.

So, what plants fulfill those requirements? Here are our picks for the 15 best plants to put around your Florida pool to add a bit of beauty and privacy.

Bird of Paradise

The Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai) has leaves that are five to ten feet long and flowers that look like tropical birds in flight. A few of these are a lovely way to gain privacy.

Hibiscus

Nothing says “tropical paradise” more than the hibiscus, which is available in a wide variety of species and colors, including white, pink, red, orange, purple, and yellow.

Papyrus

Papyrus loves wet environments and grows tall enough to help provide privacy. It can add a lush, exotic feel to your pool area, especially if your pool includes a natural water feature.

Ornamental grass

Ornamental grasses like zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’) are low maintenance and not very messy, making them a great addition to your pool area. They also blend with many other plants.

Agave Attenuata

Succulents like Agave are a great addition to your Florida pool area because they are extremely drought resistant. They won’t shed leaves, need little maintenance, and have a unique look.

Staghorn Fern (Platycerium)

These ferns grow on trees in the wild, but they can be affixed to other surfaces in your yard, and their cascading leaves can help provide privacy.

Yucca

Another succulent, Yucca won’t care how hot the area around your pool gets. It needs little maintenance and won’t droop if it gets splashed by pool water.

Trumpet Vine

Vines are a natural way to help blend fences, buildings, and other structures into the natural beauty of your pool area. Trumpet vines are a beautiful choice that will bring hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard.

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is another vine that can help beautify any structures in your yard. Put a trellis around your pool with honeysuckle vines growing on it, and suddenly you have a beautiful, sweet-smelling privacy fence.

Queen Palm

The Queen Palm will add shade and drama to your pool area without sending down a bunch of debris.

Fortnight Lily

The Fortnight Lily needs plenty of sun and grows up to two feet tall with flowers that are yellow, white, or blue.

Passion Vine

There are 400 species of tropical passion flower vines, meaning you’re bound to find one or more varieties you’ll love.

They can grow up to 20 feet in one year, which makes it a relatively quick way to add a lot of green to your pool area.

Aeonium

This succulent will add a gorgeous splash of green around your pool with little maintenance and hardly any debris to drop into your pool.

Martha Washington Geraniums

Geraniums may sound boring for spicing up a pool, but the Martha Washington (also known as Lady Washington) hybrids have vibrant colors that last from spring all the way through fall.

Some varieties even look like orchids or other tropical flowers. You can find these any many more at the Garden Center in our Sarasota location.

Echeveria

This perennial succulent feels like a cross between felt and velvet and comes in a wide variety of colors including greens, pinks, reds, and yellows.