| We put in a pool and now are trying to find some plants that would look good around the pool. We want to stay away from anything that would attract bees. We also want low maintenance. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We don't have any shade in the backyard as the trees that were planted have not matured enough yet. |
| Plants chosen to landscape swimming pool areas should meet three requirements. Branches, foliage and flowers should be smooth, not bristly, prickly, sharp or thorny, the plants should be as litter-free as possible, and they should be able to tolerate splashes of chlorine treated water. In your growing region you can choose from dozens of potential plants. Palms and tree ferns are first choices in trees, Acacia and Firmiana simplex (Chinese Parasol Tree) are next on the list. Camellia, Lantana, Viburnum davidii, Fatsia japonica (Japanese Aralia), Junipers and Pittosporum tobira are all good choices for dense hedging or shrubs, and flower choices include Lily of the Nile, Alstroemeria, Colocasia (Elephant's Ear), Coreopsis, Gazania, Daylily, Kniphofia (Red-Hot Poker), Limonium, and Gaillardia. With these suggestions in mind, you should be able to put together a functional and attractive poolside landscape. For detailed cultural information on these plants, plus some other ideas, consult Sunset Western Garden Book (ISBN# 0-376-03851-9). |
