The plants you choose to surround your Bryan/College Station swimming pool should be carefully considered before any buying or digging takes place. Once your pool is in place, you may discover that it creates a sort of micro-climate. Heated pools can increase humidity levels, and intense sunlight can fry nearby landscaping. Plants can get splashing with chlorine and other pool and spa chemicals. The key is to find strong plants that can withstand the micro-climate of your pool, and are easy to maintain and still look great.

Bird of Paradise

If you desire a tropical-oasis appearance for your Bryan/College Station pool area, a giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) will get you there quickly. Its appearance is similar to that of a banana plant, has an upright growth habit and 5 to 10-foot-long leaves. Similar to the banana, Strelitzia nicolai needs shelter from strong winds, or its leaves will get ripped and not look as good as it could.

Both the giant bird of paradise and the smaller bird of paradise make great choices for pool landscaping, as neither shed and are strong enough to tolerate splashing (in moderation, of course).

Showy Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are ideal choices for poolside landscaping. They are easy to care for, not too messy, grow quickly, blend nicely with other plants and create a striking form, day or night. One particular ornamental grass is Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus,” zebra grass or sometimes called porcupine grass. The horizontal stripes of this grass give it an exotic appearance that goes well with tropical landscaping.

Echeveria

This Mexican native often feels like a cross between felt and velvet to the touch. Echeverias are succulent perennials; come in lovely greens, pinks, reds and yellows. They are great for rock gardens and are drought tolerant. This plant is also a nice addition to planters near your pool or spa, mixed in with other succulents and some ornamental grasses for an attractive, low-maintenance display. In the Bryan/College Station area, they can be grown as shrubs, reaching a height of up to 2 feet, with 4-inch long leaves.

Agave Attenuata

Agave attenuata is a native of Mexico and grows well in the southwestern United States. This plant requires little water, and performs well near the ocean or a swimming pool. It is also easy to propagate from cuttings or pups—a few large plants can multiply and become quite prolific in just a few years.

Aeonium

While succulents are some of the least-understood plants, they have been enjoying a surge in popularity. These green beauties are Aeonium. They come in all sizes and shapes, and are the rising stars of drought-tolerant landscaping because they store water in their fleshy leaves, stems and roots.

Creeping Jenny

This European native is a vigorous perennial, naturalized in eastern North America. However, Creeping Jenny acclimates quite well in numerous settings, including woodlands and partial shade gardens and even in dry climates. Lysimachia is a beautiful chartreuse color and grows well as a ground-cover, climbing trellises or spilling out of containers near the pool.

These are just a few plants that thrive in the Bryan/College Station area for your pool landscaping. Don’t hesitate to contact us here at Paradise Oasis Pools with the link below for more information!