Directory of low litter plants for poolsides.


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PLANTS FOR POOLSIDES

Your pool will be even more inviting when you surround it with colorful desert plants. Selecting plants for your poolside landscape requires some consideration. Typically, you will want to choose plants that produce a minimum of litter and have no spines or thorns. Install low-growing plants (6 inches to 4 feet in height) within 6 to 8 feet of the pool to maximize sun exposure and minimize litter problems. Avoid turf grass or other high-water-use plants requiring heavy irrigation, as this can cause damage to your pool decking or equipment.

Click a plant name to view detailed information.

T R E E S

ironwood tree great for poolsides lends character to landscape

Acacia salicina, WILLOW ACACIA
Acacia craspedocarpa, LEATHER-LEAF ACACIA
Acacia stenophylla, SHOESTRING ACACIA
Brahea armata, MEXICAN BLUE PALM
Caesalpinia cacalaco, CASCALOTE
Chamaerops humilis, MEDITERRANEAN FAN PALM
Chorisia speciosa, SILK FLOSS TREE
Eucalyptus erythrocorys, RED-CAP GUM
Olea europea, FRUITLESS OLIVE
Olneya tesota, IRONWOOD
Pistacia lentiscus, MASTIC TREE
Pithecellobium flexicaule, TEXAS EBONY
Quercus virginiana, SOUTHERN LIVE OAK

S H R U B S

Red Eremophila seasonal color great for pools

Abutilon palmeri, INDIAN MALLOW
Buddleia marrubifolia, WOOLLY BUTTERFLY BUSH
Caesalpinia gilliesii, DESERT BIRD OF PARADISE
Calliandra californica, BAJA RED FAIRY DUSTER
Calliandra eriophylla, PINK FAIRY DUSTER
Cordia parvifolia, LITTLELEAF CORDIA
Dalea species:

- Dalea frutescens, BLACK DALEA
- Dalea pulchra, BUSH DALEA
- Dalea versicolor v. sessillis, WEEPING DALEA

Dodonaea viscosa, HOP BUSH
Encelia farinosa, BRITTLEBUSH
Eremophila maculata v. brevifolia, RED EREMOPHILA
Ericameria laricifolia, TURPENTINE BUSH
Hyptis emoryii, DESERT LAVENDER
Justicia californica, CHUPAROSA
Justicia candicans, RED JUSTICIA
Larrea tridentata, CREOSOTE BUSH
Leucophyllum species:

- Leucophyllum candidum VIOLET SILVERLEAF
- Leucophyllum frutescens TEXAS SAGE
- Leucophyllum laevigatum CHIHUAHUAN SAGE
- Leucophyllum langmaniae LANGMAN'S SAGE

Lycium fremontii, WOLFBERRY
Maytenus phyllanthoides, MANGLE DULCE
Rhus ovata, SUGAR BUSH
Ruellia peninsularis, BAJA RUELLIA
Simmondsia chinensis, JOJOBA
Sophora secundiflora, TEXAS MOUNTAIN LAUREL
Tecomaria capensis, CAPE HONEYSUCKLE
Vauquelinia californica, ARIZONA ROSEWOOD

G R O U N D C O V E R S

trailing dalea tough low litter low water plant

Baccharis hybrid, TRAILING DESERT BROOM
Cephalophyllum 'Red Spike', RED SPIKE ICE PLANT
Chrysactinia mexicana, DAMIANITA
Convolvulus cneorum, BUSH MORNING GLORY
Euphorbia rigida, BLUE EUPHORBIA
Gazania rigens, TRAILING GAZANIA
Lantana hybrids:

- Lantana hybrid, LANTANA
- Lantana montevidensis, TRAILING LANTANA

Myoporum parvifolium, MYOPORUM
Oenothera caespitosa, TUFTED EVENING PRIMROSE
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus', TRAILING ROSEMARY
Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie', KATIE RUELLIA
Teucrium chamaedrys 'Prostratum', GERMANDER
Wedelia trilobata, YELLOW DOT

C A C T I

Golden Barrel cactus low litter plant for pool

Echinocactus grusonii, GOLDEN BARREL
Lophocereus schottii f. monstrosus, TOTEM POLE
Opuntia ficus-indica, INDIAN FIG
Tephrocactus articulatus f. inermis, SPRUCE CONES

S U C C U L E N T S / A C C E N T S

Cape Aloe attracts hummingbird pool plant

Yellow bulbine great for containers and beside pool

Agave desmettiana, SMOOTH AGAVE
Agave vilmoriniana, OCTOPUS AGAVE
Agave weberi, WEBER'S AGAVE
Aloe species:

Aloe dawei DAWE'S ALOE
Aloe ferox CAPE ALOE
Aloe variegata PARTRIDGE BREAST ALOE
Aloe vera MEDICINAL ALOE

Asclepias subulata, DESERT MILKWEED
Bulbine frutescens, YELLOW BULBINE
Cycas revoluta, SAGO PALM
Dasylirion wheeleri, SOTOL
Euphorbia antisyphilitica, CANDELILLA
Fouquieria splendens, OCOTILLO
Hesperaloe funifera, GIANT HESPERALOE
Hesperaloe parviflora, RED YUCCA, HESPERALOE
Nolina microcarpa, BEARGRASS
Pedilanthus macrocarpus, SLIPPER FLOWER
Portulacaria afra, ELEPHANT BUSH
Yucca pallida, PALELEAF YUCCA

P E R E N N I A L F L O W E R S / W I L D F L O W E R S

Gaura low litter landscape plant for Arizona

Canyon Penstemon hummingbird landscape plant

Rain Lily evergreen landscape plant low litter

Baileya multiradiata, DESERT MARIGOLD
Berlandiera lyrata, CHOCOLATE FLOWER
Gaura lindheimeri, GAURA
Hymenoxys acaulis, ANGELITA DAISY
Melampodium leucanthum, BLACKFOOT DAISY
Penstemon species, PENSTEMON

- Penstemon baccharifolius ROCK PENSTEMON
- Penstemon eatonii FIRECRACKER PENSTEMON
- Penstemon parryi PARRY'S PENSTEMON
- Penstemon pseudospectabilis CANYON PENSTEMON
- Penstemon superbus CORAL PENSTEMON

Salvia clevelandii, CHAPARRAL SAGE
Sphaeralcea ambigua, GLOBE MALLOW
Verbena pulchella, MOSS VERBENA
Zephyranthes candida, RAIN LILLY
Zinnia acerosa, DESERT ZINNIA

O R N A M E N T A L G R A S S E S

Muhlenbergia capillaris, GULF MUHLY
Muhlenbergia rigins, DEER GRASS

V I N E S

primrose jasmine vine great next to pool

Antigonon leptopus, QUEEN'S WREATH
Cissus trifoliata, GRAPE IVY
Mascagnia macroptera, YELLOW ORCHID VINE
Merremia aurea, YUCA VINE
Podranea ricasoliana, PINK TRUMPET VINE
Solanum jasminoides, POTATO VINE

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The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) is a voluntary, non-profit corporation established by municipalities in Maricopa County for the development of urban water resources policy.