Poolside landscaping is an essential part of making a harmonious connection between the pool, the land, and the house itself. Its purpose is not only to add to visual charm, but also to improve functionality by offering protection from the winds, to cool the air with necessary shade, and to encourage mental and physical well-being. If you are longing to have the tropical poolside of your dreams, we have some ideas which can hopefully help you to reach your goals.

We’ve gathered 10 tropical landscaping ideas specifically for pools to transform your pool area into a stunning and functional space for your family and friends. We will offer helpful advice about landscape planning and design including pool-friendly plants, how to work with various pool shapes and sizes, and other tips as well. Some of these tips are quick, easy, and inexpensive while others are more involved and would require some remodeling and some expense. But they are all ideas and inspiration nonetheless and are here for you to think about as you consider what is most important to you. This post will help you to discover more about the benefits of having wonderful pool area including the added privacy and increased property value in addition to the increase in personal well-being.

If you haven’t read our other article on Tropical Backyard Ideas, check it because it really has some great ideas and inspiration about how to turn your backyard into a stunning vacation-like retreat. Here we will focus specifically on designing a gorgeous exotic retreat around your swimming pool.

Pool Shapes & Sizes

While there are certain pool shapes and sizes which are intended for specific purposes such as health and fitness, in reality, any pool can be turned into a tropical retreat. Free-form shapes are the most relaxing to the eye but any shape can transformed to a retreat reminiscent of the lush jungles of the South Pacific.

• Free-form (organic) shape – A curvy, natural silhouette is the perfect solution for recreating the settings of a real lagoon. Free-form shapes also offer the most potential for getting creative and expressing your own personal tastes. Adding stone features and a waterfall or two are very easy because you can creating almost any look you want. Since there are no straight edges from the pool to take into account, you can are free to create any look with stone that you desire along the pool’s edges. You can create as much cascading water as you want without having to worry if it will look natural or not. It will definitely look natural!
• Kidney-shaped or Bean-shaped – This shape is also very good for recreating natural settings as it does not have sharp edges. The look flows in a relaxed way which aligns well with exotic design décor styles. Adding stone features and a waterfall or two with this shape is also very easy. For the most natural placement of stone and cascading water, we recommend using only one half of the pool. Since both ends of this shape are basically mirror opposites of each other, you don’t want to create the same look at each end because this can create an unnatural “duplicated” look. It can look like you simply overdid it with the stone and waterfalls and it won’t have that natural look which is the goal.
• Rectangular – This shape is very traditional and is the best for true swimming. It was pretty much the standard shape for a home pool from the 1950’s through the 1970’s when the bean shape began to make its entrance. They are also great for water games such pool volleyball. Just string a volleyball net across and you are good to go!  In creating your tropical escape, rectangular pools retain their functionality and you can add on to them by creating in-water benches or even a tanning ledge or two. This shape also is excellent for creating modern tropical designs and for working with minimalist tropical landscapes.
• L-shaped (“Lazy L” and “T”) – These can create a very high-end or sophisticated look as they turn a corner or wrap around a patio. You can really get creative when decorating these spaces. Use carefully planned landscaping techniques such as layering with taller plants at the back against the fence or wall and smaller plants being used up front towards the walkway or path. You can either continue the same style of landscaping around corners or you can create a hard break and then focus on the corner itself. Here you can go with a larger bush or tree, depending on the space and room you have with some specific ground-height plantings around it. Then you can continue on with the same type of landscape design as before or you can change things up and create a new look with different types of plants and flowers. It really is up to you!
• Geometric shape – It can be somewhat challenging to achieve a sense of the tropics around a geometrically shaped pool, but it can be done. Edges and corners should be softened as much as possible and this is easily achieved by using densely planted foliage and decorative grasses. Keep the use of hardscape such as stone paths, gravel, and pavers to a minimum. Use larger plants where possible to draw the eye away from the geometric design and to soften the overall look.

Photo Credit: The Spruce

When it comes to pool sizes, for most people, bigger is simply better. Larger pools allow for more movement and for a larger number of guests. You can create a larger tropical display around a larger body of water. But of course, smaller pools are awesome too! They are just as refreshing to take a dip in when it’s hot and they can be used to create more intimate settings. The require less landscaping to create that tropical feel. They also use less water and are easier and cheaper to maintain.

Step 1 – Planning

This is an important step that involves a lot of research. Take your time and do the research. Look at everything you can so you will have the least amount, or preferably no surprises later. Consider the terrain, weather conditions, your hardiness zone, lot size, design styles, plant availability, materials, and the features you prefer. Consider how much time and effort you can devote to maintaining your poolside tropical retreat. Do you favor a low-maintenance yard or do you prefer to do your own hands-on regular maintenance? Do you want to hire a gardener and a pool service so you don’t have to do anything yourself? Consider your one-time and ongoing labor costs and factor those into your budget before you begin any work.

Step 2 – Hardscaping

Take into consideration how much space you want to dedicate to outdoor furnishings, shaded conversation areas, pathways, and sunbathing. A wider hardscaping around the pool means the greenery around it will be farther back and won’t get splashed as much. This is something to consider when choosing plants because some can handle chlorinated water and some cannot. If you should happen to have a saltwater pool, this is an even more important consideration because plants in general cannot tolerate the salt. So if splashing water is a consideration, you can opt for some landscaping rocks such as gravel, river rock, or lava rock with some really cool larger decorative rock or stone pieces.

Step 3 – Plant Life

Choose plants which create length and volume. Large-leaved plants such as banana trees, windmill palms, cordyline, bird of paradise, and oleander. Just know that flowering plants will eventually shed those flowers and many plants to drop leaves regularly. Anything that produces fruit should be a definite “No!” next to a pool because fruit that falls in a pool is sure to stain the pool’s surface material such as plaster unless it is removed immediately.

So many sure your pool skimmers are in great working order and empty their baskets regularly. Or get a great pool skimming device that cleans the surface of the pool. We have an awesome one which will be review for you here shortly! If you live in area that is frequently breezy or outright windy (like we do) and/or you have a neighbor who has a lot of very tall mature landscaping which looks beautiful from our side of the fence but which is a debris nightmare (like we do), be prepared! You can end up with so much stuff in your pool which you know didn’t come from anything in your yard. Also, when fall comes around and certain trees lose their leaves, that creates a whole separate special “fun” when it comes to maintaining your pool.

You should also keep plants that have thorns or which attract a lot of bees away from high traffic areas and pathways.

And remember, as we have said before, layer those plants to make them look as if they are in their natural setting.

Photo Credit: Squarespace

Step 4 – Materials

The types of materials you choose determine how safe and how durable this area will be. Consider adding materials that are less slippery but can which can stand up to heavy use such as non-slip paving stone, natural stone, limestone, and sandstone. Don’t forget that dark paving absorbs more heat so it can become extremely hot to walk on when barefoot!

Step 5 – Create Zones

Think about all of the ways this area will be used. Ask yourself the following: Who will be spending time here? What will they be doing? Or will this space be just for you? There are a ton of options to consider and you want to be sure you have thought of everything as much as possible prior to starting any work. The last thing you want when you have finished is to realize something was missed.

So when considering how this space will be used and who will be using it, consider things like adding a pergola perhaps or maybe a gazebo. You might simply need a few sun loungers or maybe you need a separate area too. Will you be entertaining outside? Some people prefer to have their guests largely in one space when entertaining so perhaps an outdoor kitchen is needed. If so, how basic or how elaborate should it be? As you can see, there really is A LOT to consider when creating one or more zones.

Step 6 – Privacy

If you and your family want to swim and lounge around the pool without worrying that your neighbors may see you, consider introducing elements that help add privacy. Sometimes safety fences, privacy screens, and perimeter fences don’t offer enough privacy, especially if there is a two-story house next door with a window or two overlooking your yard. Consider planting a tree or other tall plants. Just research them thoroughly before buying them. Will the tree lose its leaves in the fall? Will that tall plant freeze back or even die during the winter? You want plant life that is large and preferably evergreen.

A Note About Bamboo:

Bamboo is wonderful because it creates an iconic tropical look, it is an excellent screen, it grows very fast, and many species can tolerate brief cold spells into the 20’s. But…be careful with it!

All bamboo are technically grasses. That means from the smallest to the largest, they all grow quickly which makes them awesome living screens. There are many different species of bamboo available from thin-stemmed and medium in height to giant cane bamboo which has stalks several inches around and can grow to 20 feet tall or taller. Regardless of the size, most bamboo is very invasive as they send out underground “runners” which can then sprout up new plants several feet away from the original plant. Many of them are hard to dig up and remove because runners can grow in all directions.

In most locations, you can plant it freely, but you really need to plant it in a planter space which is heavily lined with very thick hard plastic lining that goes down at least 2 feet deep so it literally cannot escape. Some locations do restrict its use so you should check your local ordinances first to make sure you are allowed to plant it. Doing so if there are restrictions can result in legal issues or fines if it gets out and starts growing on a neighbor’s property.

Step 7 – Lighting

Solar-powered walkway lights are awesome for getting to and going from an outdoor tropical retreat. Hidden uplighting creates an amazingly beautiful and tropical effect when lights are placed behind palm trunks, under large-leaf plants, and up against dramatic rock formations. Lighting can be regular in color. Or you can mix in a few colored bulbs here and there to create a really cool effect that starts to being in that tiki vibe. Tiki torches bring in a form of active lighting which really brings the tropics home!

All lighting can be solar-powered if enough sunlight can regularly reach each lighting unit. Otherwise, it is a worthwhile investment to have electric landscape lighting installed which runs on a timer. You really cannot go wrong with that.

Photo Credit: Westchester Magazine

Pool-Friendly Tropical Plants

Whether you have a small backyard or a large one, with the right selection of outdoor exotic plants you can create your private oasis around your pool. Below, we have a list of plants which are wonderful suggestions to help you create your wonderful oasis. It’s a short list because there is really a wide variety of tropical plants available which do well in most climates.

• Chinese Yellow Banana (Musella lasioscarpa) – This cold-hardy, ornamental shrub is a perennial, so you can enjoy it year after year. It can grow up to 6 feet tall and has gorgeous, giant yellow flowers.
• Japanese Banana (Musa Basjoo) – This fast-growing perennial grows up to 14 feet tall and has a tropical appearance due to its clusters of creamy yellow tubular flowers.
• Star Jasmine (Trachleospermum jasminoides) – This is a plant that quickly climbs if supported well. It can grow up to 18 feet and has an absolutely wonderful scent.
• Limelight Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) – This long blooming shrub is very tolerant to drought. Since the blooms are green in color, these add some unusual interest when mixed with other colorful flowers.
• Palm Trees – There are truly many varieties to choose from. There are Queen Palms and King Palms. There are Mexican Blue Fan Palms as well as Sago Palms and Pygmy Date Palms.

A Note About Palm Trees

The list of palms is quite long and here too, you really need to do your research. Some palms are cold tolerant and others are not. We had 2 beautiful Washingtonias by our pool which are cold tolerant that over 20 years, grew to a height of 50 feet. These are the same palm trees that Los Angeles is famous for which grow incredibly tall (think Beverly Hills and Hollywood). We had them trimmed and cleaned each May prior to hurricane season and we loved them. We knew they wouldn’t last forever like they do in California because here in Houston, they would either get hit by lightning at some point or they would come down in a hurricane. But it wasn’t either of those that took them. It was the big freeze in February 2021 when nighttime temps went down to 12 degrees and the daytime highs didn’t get above 15. That lasted for 2 nights and 3 days. The trees froze and we had to have them removed. Those 2 trees survived many winters with occasional nights down into the upper teens and low 20’s. Other than some damage to their leaves, they were fine. But they couldn’t handle the big freeze in 2021. It was quite sad and we still miss them.

The point here is just know that unless you live in a true tropical climate (which for the US is only either the greater Miami area and Hawaii), it only takes one abnormally cold winter to kill off trees and plants which you have had for many years.

Photo Credit: Proven Winners

• Container plants – Even if you live in lower hardiness zones, you can still have lots of tropical foliage. Just be sure to plant them in pots so you can bring them inside during cooler months. When growing tropicals in containers, try to match them up with the best looking large plants for your colder climate. Inground cold climate plants are beautiful too during the spring and summer. When those are paired with potted tropicals, you can create some really awesome landscaped displays! Some tropicals that are very pretty by the pool hibiscus, various ferns, Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia), and Million Bells (Calibrachoa).

Photo Credit: Crescent Garden

10 Tropical Landscaping Ideas for Pools

You can easily recreate a tropical-style around the pool if you live far from the tropics and even if you have a smaller pool. Take a look below at our collection of tropical landscaping ideas that will make your yard the star of your entire property.

1.      Lush and Dense

In this example, hardscape elements are softened by creeping plants. A mix of greenery of different heights, planted densely to fill every corner and crevice, combined with accent rocks, and a fire pit creates a pool grotto surrounded by natural stone. This is a perfect recreation of the natural look of the tropics.

Photo Credit: HGTVHome

2.      Private Luxury

Tall palm trees and large bright green bushes planted around this free form pool bring a touch of romance and a rainforest feel to this yard. Additional features include a shaded lounge area and a seating area tucked under a thatched patio beach umbrella.

Photo Credit: Elfsight

3.      Working With Slopes

Take advantage of the uneven terrain in your backyard. A steep slope gives you an opportunity to create a dramatic and dynamic visual appeal by connecting two small pools on different heights by a waterfall stream. In this photo, the ambiance of the faraway islands is achieved by palms and elephant ear surrounding the pool. Natural boulders, rocks, and tiki torches help to complete the look.

Photo Credit: Georgia Classic Pool

4.      Bi-Level Pool

This is another example of how uneven terrain or a hilly area can be used to achieve the maximum tropical effect. The landscaping around this bi-level pool showcases a beautiful blend of hardscape elements and exquisite stone craftsmanship with the softness and color of tropical plants. This well-thought out design includes lots of water features, a gazebo, and outdoor seating areas which allow for maximum comfort and relaxation.

Photo Credit: HGTVHome

5.      Plunge Pool

If your property is on the smaller side and you happen to have a small plunge pool, you have what you need to create an awesome tropical escape! You can create gorgeous landscaping that will become a true source of tranquility and relaxation.

Photo Credit: Harrisons Landscaping

6.      Rainforest Retreat

The use of many palm trees and banana plants creates a wall of greenery around this free-form pool. The smart use of large art objects on the deck with lounge chairs and seating upholstered in a simple cream color creates a luxurious look such as one that you would find at an expensive tropical resort.

Photo Credit: Decoist

7.      Vacation Brought Home

To accomplish the atmosphere found in places like Bali or Thailand, patterned pool decking such as what is seen here is a must. Include some Asian print pillows and seating and then pair it with an outdoor Balinese umbrella and you have brought tropical Asia home! Go as big as you can with tropical plantings because if your climate allows it, these create a bold and leafy look around the pool. If you do have winters to contend with, use pots. The bigger the better. Just make sure you not only have a protected place to move your plants when it gets cold but also that you are able to move them. Large tropicals usually have a large water content. Pair that weight with that of the pot and soil itself and you now have one heavy piece to move. You want to always be sure that you can safely move anything that is that heavy.

Photo Credit: The Lady

8.     Landscaping For Rectangular Pools

Here is a beautiful example of how to bring the vibes of faraway lands home through thoughtful landscaping. Earthy tones including deep greens, dark browns, and creams, are mixed with lots of natural elements. From rattan furniture and stone accents to the lush foliage, the rectangular space has been transformed into an oasis of serenity and peacefulness.

Photo Credit: For Dragonflies And Me

9.      Landscaping For Small Spaces

This small yard with its small plunge pool received a chic facelift to recreate the Zen-like feelings of a tropical island. A living green wall is anchored with several tall palms and then is accented with some large rocks, smaller pebbles, and some small ornamental plants. Even though this space is small, it features plenty of seating which ensures that this place can be a favorite gathering place for family and friends.

Photo Credit: Landscaping Network

10.      Your Own Tropical Resort

A pool fountain with lights is a fantastic feature for both small and large pools. In fact, when the lights are lit at night, they illuminate the water and turn the whole space into a breathtaking, magical display.

Photo Credit: Goodbye to Muck

The Benefits Of Pool Landscaping

There is no doubt that well-landscaped grounds add appeal to a property and even increases your property value. However, those are not the only benefits of beautifully designed landscaping. Here are some others that you will have as a result:

• Beautifies your personal space
• Provides shade and a cooler place to relax
• Provides privacy and allows for intimacy
• Improves you well-being by reducing anxiety and tension
• Plants create oxygen and they help to purify the air around you
• A beautiful place to escape to helps to lower blood pressure and can lead to better rest and sleep

Photo Credit: Place Ideal

Some Quick Tips To Prevent Issues

With regular pruning and good plant care which includes regular fertilizing and proper watering, you will help to keep your landscaping healthy and pest free. Obviously pools deserve the same attention because if you don’t keep up with the maintenance, they can quickly turn into a mess. Your pool will become not only unsightly but it will also become unhealthy. No one wants to have that in their tropical escape! So to keep your pool in shape, here are few reminders:

• If you haven’t done so already, invest in good quality pool equipment and accessories
• Vacuum and then brush your pool regularly
• Keep the skimmer baskets empty
• Pool filters should be cleaned at least once a quarter, depending on how heavily used the pool is. This includes backwashing and then opening the filter to clean the screens whether they are cartridge filters or use DE (diatomaceous earth)
• Run the pool filter for at least 8 hours a day, preferably for 12 hours during the summer
• Test your pool water weekly and adjust your pool chemicals as needed
• Depending on where you live, winterize according to your local climate. Your local pool supply store will know what to do so be sure to consult with them.

NOTE: Remember to keep pool chemicals away from children and pets.