Best Trees to Plant Poolside: 13 Tropical Picks for a Resort Vibe

Poolside trees need to be low leaf drop, non-invasive in the roots, and tolerant of reflected heat. Six picks that deliver resort-style privacy and shade without wrecking the pool shell or filling the skimmer.

Feature TreesHedgingLow MaintenanceNon-invasive RootsPoolside Trees

The right planting turns a backyard pool into a holiday space. Tall palms catch the light, frangipani scent the air, bougainvillea drapes over the back wall, and bold-leafed accents do the visual work that takes the pool from suburban to resort.

The thirteen tropical picks below are the ones we plant most often around pools. Each one is chosen for the resort vibe — architectural feature plants, statement palms, fragrant flowering features, sculptural accents and the privacy screen that ties the back of the pool together. Pick five or six that suit your climate and the pool quickly becomes the holiday memory it's meant to evoke.

Strelitzia nicolai — the Giant White Bird of Paradise. Architectural paddle leaves and dramatic flowers turn the pool area into a resort.
Phoenix roebellenii — the compact Pygmy Date Palm. Fine feathery fronds that hold tropical scale in tighter courtyard pools.
Plumeria rubra — the Frangipani. Sculptural branches, glossy summer foliage, fragrant pink-and-yellow flowers. Holiday in a tree.
Agave desmettiana 'El Miradores Gold' — the soft-leaf attenuata-style sculptural agave. No spines, smooth grey-green rosette with bright gold edges.
Bougainvillea 'Purple Cascade' — saturated tropical colour. Cascading purple bracts that drape over walls and fences.
Bougainvillea 'White Cascade' — the refined tropical climber. Pure white papery bracts that read cleanly against tile and rendered surrounds. Layer with Purple Cascade for two-tone tropical drama.
Waterhousea floribunda — the soft native screen that frames the tropical palette beautifully at the back of the pool.
Cycas revoluta — the Sago Palm. A prehistoric sculptural anchor with a perfect crown of glossy stiff dark green fronds.
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana — the Bangalow Palm. Tall slender Australian native palm for the rainforest-canopy backdrop.
Dicksonia antarctica — the Soft Tree Fern. Lush rainforest grotto in a single plant for shaded pool corners.
Alocasia macrorrhizos — Giant Elephant Ear. Massive glossy heart-shaped leaves for bold-leaf tropical contrast.
Washingtonia robusta — the Mexican Fan Palm. Tall slender Palm Springs silhouette for pure vertical resort drama.
Beaucarnea recurvata — the Ponytail Palm. Sculptural bulbous trunk and cascading leaves that asks for almost nothing.

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Strelitzia nicolai Giant White Bird of Paradise	5 to 8m	3 to 4m	Multi-stemmed upright tropical sculpture	Giant paddle-shaped grey-green leaves on tall stems, evergreen	Tropical poolside features, resort-style entries, instant architectural drama
Phoenix roebelenii Pygmy Date Palm	2 to 4m	1.5 to 2.5m	Compact single or multi-trunked palm with soft graceful canopy	Fine arching dark green feathery fronds	Compact poolside palms, courtyards, pots, tropical accents in tight spaces
Plumeria rubra Frangipani	4 to 6m	3 to 4m	Sculptural multi-branched feature tree with thick fleshy trunks	Large glossy deep green leaves, deciduous in winter	Tropical poolside features, summer fragrance, resort-style entries, sculptural winter trunks
Agave desmettiana 'El Miradores Gold' Golden Smooth Agave (attenuata-style)	0.6 to 1m	0.8 to 1.2m	Symmetrical rosette without spines	Smooth grey-green leaves edged with bright gold on a symmetrical rosette — no spines	Sculptural tropical accents, pot specimens, modern resort palettes, safe-feet poolside positions
Bougainvillea 'Purple Cascade' Bougainvillea	3 to 6m	2 to 4m	Cascading climber, trains over walls and fences	Evergreen, mid-green leaves on cascading woody stems	Pool walls, pergolas, fences, tropical colour at vertical scale
Bougainvillea 'White Cascade' White Cascade Bougainvillea	3 to 6m	2 to 4m	Cascading climber, trains over walls and fences	Evergreen, mid-green leaves on cascading woody stems	Pool walls, pergolas, fences, soft tropical colour at vertical scale, layered with Purple Cascade for two-tone tropical drama
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	5 to 8m, can be pruned to desired height	3 to 4m	Dense weeping native screen	Evergreen, glossy green with pink-bronze new growth and a soft weeping habit	Tropical pool boundary privacy screens, dense soft native backdrops
Cycas revoluta Sago Palm	1.5 to 3m at maturity	1.5 to 3m	Sculptural rosette atop a thick shaggy trunk	Glossy stiff dark green pinnate fronds in a perfect crown	Sculptural tropical accents, pot specimens, prehistoric resort drama
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Bangalow Palm	8 to 15m	3 to 4m	Tall slender single-trunk palm with a clean canopy crown	Long arching deep green pinnate fronds	Native tropical pool features, rainforest-style canopy, vertical structure
Dicksonia antarctica Soft Tree Fern	2 to 4m	2 to 4m	Sculptural fibrous trunk topped with a lush fern crown	Lush soft arching green fronds in a perfect crown	Shaded pool corners, rainforest-style lush layered planting, courtyard ferneries
Alocasia macrorrhizos Giant Elephant Ear	1.5 to 3m	1.5 to 2.5m	Clumping upright bold-leaf accent	Massive glossy heart-shaped tropical green leaves on tall stems	Bold-leaf tropical accents, layered pool plantings, lush rainforest feel, pot specimens
Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Palm	10 to 20m	3 to 5m	Tall single-trunk fan palm with classic California resort silhouette	Large green fan-shaped fronds on a tall slender trunk	Statement tropical poolside features, resort silhouettes, vertical pool drama
Beaucarnea recurvata Ponytail Palm	1.5 to 4m	1 to 2m	Bulbous water-storing trunk topped with a cascading ponytail of foliage	Long cascading narrow green leaves spilling from a sculptural swollen base	Sculptural pot specimens, drought-wise pool surrounds, modern resort schemes

Anchor with an architectural feature

Every tropical pool palette needs one architectural anchor. Strelitzia nicolai for the dramatic paddle-leaf scale. Washingtonia robusta for the Palm Springs vertical silhouette. Bangalow Palm for the native rainforest canopy. Pick one and build the layers around it.

Add a flowering tropical feature

Frangipani delivers fragrance and the sculptural bare-branch winter form. Bougainvillea drapes vertical colour over walls and fences. Pair them for both the scented summer flush and the painted-wall tropical colour.

Layer compact palms at mid-scale

Phoenix roebellenii holds compact palm scale in tight courtyard pools. Cycas revoluta gives the sculptural prehistoric anchor at lower scale. Group them at the base of taller features for textural layering.

Use bold leaves to break the fine-foliage rhythm

Most tropical palettes are fine-foliaged — palms, frangipanis, agaves. Alocasia macrorrhizos delivers the opposite — massive heart-shaped leaves that break the rhythm and turn the planting from collected to designed.

Fill shaded corners with rainforest lushness

Dicksonia antarctica turns a shaded back-of-pool corner into a rainforest grotto. The lush soft fronds and sculptural fibrous trunk add the layered depth that tropical pool plantings need to read as designed.

Anchor at ground level with sculptural form

Agave desmettiana 'El Miradores Gold' and Beaucarnea recurvata sit at ground level as living sculpture. Use them at the base of taller features, in oversized pots, or as standalone accents. Both handle reflected pool heat and drought beautifully.

Don't forget the back-of-pool screen

Tropical pool palettes still need a privacy hedge. Waterhousea floribunda gives you the dense tall native screen without going formal or boxy — the soft weeping habit reads as part of the lush tropical palette rather than fighting it.

1. Strelitzia nicolai (Giant White Bird of Paradise)

Strelitzia nicolai is the architectural anchor of any tropical poolside garden. Giant paddle-shaped grey-green leaves on tall stems and dramatic white-and-blue bird-shaped flowers turn the whole pool area into a resort. The single most iconic tropical feature plant we sell.

Type: Architectural tropical feature plant
Height: 5 to 8m
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Moderate to fast
Foliage: Giant paddle-shaped grey-green leaves on tall stems, evergreen
Flowers: Dramatic white and blue bird-shaped flowers from clumping crowns
Form: Multi-stemmed upright tropical sculpture
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Warm-temperate to subtropical. Frost-free positions
Maintenance: Very low. Remove tatty leaves at the base as needed
Best for: Tropical poolside features, resort-style entries, instant architectural drama

Why choose it

Nothing else delivers tropical scale quite like a Giant Bird of Paradise. The paddle leaves catch the breeze and the pool light, the dramatic flowers stop people in their tracks, and the multi-stemmed clumping form fills a tall vertical space beautifully. Resort feel from a single plant.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with Phoenix roebellenii at the base for textural palm contrast, Agave desmettiana as a sculptural accent, and Bougainvillea on the back wall for tropical colour.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun for the strongest flowers. Allow 3 to 4m clear of paving. Frost-free positions only. Water deeply through the first two summers, then let it stand on rainfall.

The single most iconic tropical feature plant.

Shop Strelitzia nicolai

2. Phoenix roebelenii (Pygmy Date Palm)

Phoenix roebelenii is the perfect compact palm for tight tropical poolside positions. Fine arching dark green feathery fronds on a short stout trunk, slow growing so it stays in proportion to the pool for years, and equally happy in the ground or oversized pots.

Type: Compact feathery palm
Height: 2 to 4m
Width: 1.5 to 2.5m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Fine arching dark green feathery fronds
Form: Compact single or multi-trunked palm with soft graceful canopy
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Warm-temperate and subtropical. Frost-free preferred
Maintenance: Very low. Remove spent fronds at the base
Best for: Compact poolside palms, courtyards, pots, tropical accents in tight spaces

Why choose it

Smaller and softer than the larger fan palms, the Pygmy Date Palm holds tropical scale in tight courtyard pools where Washingtonia or Bangalow Palms would overpower. The fine feathery fronds catch the pool light beautifully and the slow growth keeps the palm in proportion for a decade.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with Strelitzia nicolai as the architectural anchor behind, Cycas revoluta at the base for sculptural contrast, and Bougainvillea on a back wall for tropical colour.

Tips for planting

Plant in well-drained soil. Water deeply through the first two summers. Multi-trunk specimens read as a fuller palm group from day one.

The compact tropical palm for courtyard pools.

Shop Phoenix roebelenii

3. Plumeria rubra (Frangipani)

Plumeria rubra is the Frangipani — the most fragrant tropical feature tree you can plant near a pool. Sculptural thick branches in winter, large glossy leaves through summer, and the unmistakable scented pink-and-yellow flowers that carry the resort holiday memory in a single tree.

Type: Deciduous tropical flowering feature tree
Height: 4 to 6m
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Large glossy deep green leaves, deciduous in winter
Flowers: Highly fragrant pink, white and yellow-centred flowers in spectacular summer clusters
Form: Sculptural multi-branched feature tree with thick fleshy trunks
Conditions: Full sun. Well-drained soil. Warm-temperate to subtropical. Drought tolerant once established
Maintenance: Very low. Light shaping prune in late winter only
Best for: Tropical poolside features, summer fragrance, resort-style entries, sculptural winter trunks

Why choose it

Few trees match the Frangipani for tropical poolside presence. The scent fills the pool area on warm summer evenings, the sculptural bare-branch winter form is a feature in its own right, and the flowers float beautifully on the pool surface when they drop — a feature, not a clean-up problem.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with Strelitzia nicolai behind for architectural scale, Phoenix roebellenii at the base, and Agave desmettiana as a sculptural ground-level accent.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun with sharp drainage. Stake young trees through the first year. Water deeply through the first two summers then taper off — mature Frangipani prefer it dry.

The Frangipani. Holiday in a tree.

Shop Plumeria rubra

4. Agave desmettiana 'El Miradores Gold' (Golden Smooth Agave (attenuata-style))

Agave desmettiana 'El Miradores Gold' is the soft-leafed sculptural agave for safe poolside use. Smooth grey-green rosettes edged with bright gold, no spines, and a symmetrical form that reads as living sculpture beside the water. The attenuata-style smooth-leaf agave — the design choice when bare feet matter.

Type: Sculptural soft-leafed agave accent
Height: 0.6 to 1m
Width: 0.8 to 1.2m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Smooth grey-green leaves edged with bright gold on a symmetrical rosette — no spines
Flowers: Tall flower spike once at maturity
Form: Symmetrical rosette without spines
Conditions: Full sun. Sharp drainage. Drought and heat tolerant
Maintenance: Very low. Remove offsets if you want a single clean rosette
Best for: Sculptural tropical accents, pot specimens, modern resort palettes, safe-feet poolside positions

Why choose it

Pure sculptural form without the spines. The soft golden-edged rosette catches reflected pool light beautifully against palm fronds and tropical foliage, gives the resort palette its single dramatic anchor at ground level, and asks for almost nothing in return.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully at the base of a Strelitzia nicolai or Phoenix roebellenii, with Cycas revoluta as a complementary sculptural accent, and Bougainvillea on the back wall.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun with sharp drainage. Equally happy in the ground or oversized pots. Remove pups once a year for a single clean rosette form.

The smooth-leaf sculptural agave. Safe, soft, golden-edged.

Shop Agave desmettiana 'El Miradores Gold'

5. Bougainvillea 'Purple Cascade' (Bougainvillea)

Bougainvillea is tropical colour at vertical scale. The Purple Cascade variety carries masses of vivid papery purple bracts across spring and summer, drapes beautifully over pool walls and fences, and shrugs off the reflected heat that defeats softer climbers. The signature tropical resort wall planting.

Type: Tropical climbing flowering vine
Height: 3 to 6m
Width: 2 to 4m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Evergreen, mid-green leaves on cascading woody stems
Flowers: Masses of vivid purple papery bracts across spring and summer
Form: Cascading climber, trains over walls and fences
Conditions: Full sun for the strongest flowering. Warm-temperate to subtropical. Drought tolerant once established
Maintenance: Light shaping prune after the main flowering flush
Best for: Pool walls, pergolas, fences, tropical colour at vertical scale

Why choose it

Few plants deliver colour at vertical scale the way Bougainvillea does. The papery bracts catch reflected pool light and turn a plain back wall into the holiday backdrop the pool deserves. Heat-tolerant, drought-tough and reliably spectacular every flowering season.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully behind Strelitzia nicolai for architectural scale, Phoenix roebellenii at the base, and Agave desmettiana as a sculptural ground accent.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun against a warm wall for the strongest flowering. Train the cascading stems along wire or trellis. Water through the first two summers.

Tropical colour at wall scale.

Shop Bougainvillea 'Purple Cascade'

6. Bougainvillea 'White Cascade' (White Cascade Bougainvillea)

Bougainvillea 'White Cascade' is the refined tropical colour pick. Masses of pure white papery bracts cascade over walls and pergolas, the white reads cleanly against tile and rendered surrounds, and it pairs beautifully with the purple variety for layered tropical colour.

Type: Tropical climbing flowering vine
Height: 3 to 6m
Width: 2 to 4m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Evergreen, mid-green leaves on cascading woody stems
Flowers: Masses of pure white papery bracts across spring and summer
Form: Cascading climber, trains over walls and fences
Conditions: Full sun for the strongest flowering. Warm-temperate to subtropical. Drought tolerant once established
Maintenance: Light shaping prune after the main flowering flush
Best for: Pool walls, pergolas, fences, soft tropical colour at vertical scale, layered with Purple Cascade for two-tone tropical drama

Why choose it

White Cascade brings tropical colour at vertical scale without the saturated intensity of the purple varieties. Cleaner, more refined, and beautiful against rendered walls and modern tile. Plant it alongside Purple Cascade and you get the layered two-tone Bougainvillea drama every resort wall is doing.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully alongside Bougainvillea 'Purple Cascade' for two-tone tropical drama, behind Strelitzia nicolai for architectural scale, and with Agave desmettiana as a sculptural ground accent.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun against a warm wall for the strongest flowering. Train the cascading stems along wire or trellis. Water through the first two summers.

The refined white tropical climber.

Shop Bougainvillea 'White Cascade'

7. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousea floribunda is the native screen that frames tropical poolside planting beautifully. The soft weeping habit and pink-bronze new growth give the back of the pool area a lush green backdrop, while the dense foliage handles the pool boundary privacy job other tropical plants don't cover.

Type: Tall native screening hedge
Height: 5 to 8m, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Evergreen, glossy green with pink-bronze new growth and a soft weeping habit
Flowers: Small white fluffy summer flowers
Form: Dense weeping native screen
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Prefers consistent soil moisture
Maintenance: Two light prunes a year for a dense screen
Best for: Tropical pool boundary privacy screens, dense soft native backdrops

Why choose it

Tropical pool gardens still need a privacy hedge. Waterhousea gives you the dense tall native screen without going formal or boxy — the soft weeping habit reads as part of the lush tropical palette rather than fighting it. Pink-bronze new growth adds a constant warm flush.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully behind Strelitzia nicolai and Archontophoenix cunninghamiana as the back-of-pool screening, with Dicksonia antarctica in shaded corners for the lush layered fern look.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a dense screen. Mulch heavily — this one likes consistent soil moisture. Two light prunes a year keeps the weeping habit tidy.

The soft native screen that frames the tropical garden.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda

8. Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm)

Cycas revoluta is the prehistoric sculptural anchor of the tropical pool garden. The Sago Palm carries a perfect crown of glossy stiff dark green fronds atop a shaggy trunk — a piece of living sculpture from the dinosaur era that reads as both ancient and exotic beside modern pool tile.

Type: Sculptural prehistoric cycad accent
Height: 1.5 to 3m at maturity
Width: 1.5 to 3m
Growth rate: Very slow
Foliage: Glossy stiff dark green pinnate fronds in a perfect crown
Form: Sculptural rosette atop a thick shaggy trunk
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Well-drained soil. Drought tolerant
Maintenance: Very low. Remove spent fronds at the base
Best for: Sculptural tropical accents, pot specimens, prehistoric resort drama

Why choose it

Nothing else delivers sculptural form like a Cycas revoluta. The geometric crown of glossy fronds is the kind of visual moment that turns a pool area into a designed garden, and the slow growth keeps the proportion right for decades. Drought tolerant, low fuss, prehistoric drama in a single plant.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully at the base of Strelitzia nicolai or Phoenix roebellenii, with Agave desmettiana as a complementary sculptural accent, and Bougainvillea on a back wall.

Tips for planting

Plant in sun or filtered light. Sharp drainage matters. Equally happy in the ground or oversized pots. Allow space for the mature crown spread.

Prehistoric sculptural drama. The Sago Palm.

Shop Cycas revoluta

9. Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (Bangalow Palm)

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana is the Australian native palm for tropical poolside planting with local credentials. The Bangalow Palm delivers tall slender vertical structure, long arching deep green fronds and the kind of rainforest canopy that turns a backyard pool into the holiday memory it deserves to be.

Type: Tall native rainforest palm
Height: 8 to 15m
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Long arching deep green pinnate fronds
Flowers: Cream summer flower clusters followed by red fruit feeding native birds
Form: Tall slender single-trunk palm with a clean canopy crown
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Prefers consistent soil moisture. Warm-temperate to subtropical
Maintenance: Very low. Self-cleaning fronds drop naturally
Best for: Native tropical pool features, rainforest-style canopy, vertical structure

Why choose it

Native tropical structure on a palm that handles Australian conditions other tropical palms struggle with. The self-cleaning canopy drops fronds neatly, the slender trunk holds proportion in tighter pool gardens, and the red summer fruit feeds native birds on top of the visual feature.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with Strelitzia nicolai for layered architectural scale, Dicksonia antarctica at the base for rainforest lushness, and Waterhousea floribunda as the back-of-pool screen.

Tips for planting

Plant in part shade or filtered light for the fastest establishment. Mulch heavily. Group three Bangalows together for the strongest rainforest canopy effect.

The native rainforest palm for backyard pools.

Shop Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

10. Dicksonia antarctica (Soft Tree Fern)

Dicksonia antarctica is the Australian native tree fern that turns a shaded pool corner into a rainforest grotto. The lush soft arching green fronds and sculptural fibrous trunk give the pool area the layered tropical lushness that palms alone can't deliver.

Type: Sculptural native tree fern
Height: 2 to 4m
Width: 2 to 4m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Lush soft arching green fronds in a perfect crown
Form: Sculptural fibrous trunk topped with a lush fern crown
Conditions: Part shade to full shade. Moist well-drained soil. Sheltered from drying winds
Maintenance: Low. Mist the trunk in dry weather. Remove tatty fronds
Best for: Shaded pool corners, rainforest-style lush layered planting, courtyard ferneries

Why choose it

Most tropical pool plantings want sun. Dicksonia fills the shaded corners other tropical plants refuse, layering rainforest lushness against the back wall or under taller palms. The sculptural trunk and dense fern crown give the planting depth and a layered designed feel.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully under Archontophoenix cunninghamiana for the rainforest canopy effect, with Alocasia macrorrhizos at the base for bold-leaf contrast and Waterhousea floribunda behind.

Tips for planting

Plant in part to full shade with consistent soil moisture. Mist the trunk through summer to keep the crown hydrated. Mulch heavily.

The Australian native tree fern. Rainforest grotto in a single plant.

Shop Dicksonia antarctica

11. Alocasia macrorrhizos (Giant Elephant Ear)

Alocasia macrorrhizos is the bold-leaf tropical accent the pool area is missing. Massive glossy heart-shaped tropical green leaves on tall stems give the planting the oversized leaf moment that turns the pool from suburban to resort — the visual moment palms and frangipanis can't deliver alone.

Type: Bold-leaf tropical accent
Height: 1.5 to 3m
Width: 1.5 to 2.5m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Massive glossy heart-shaped tropical green leaves on tall stems
Form: Clumping upright bold-leaf accent
Conditions: Part shade to filtered sun. Moist soil. Warm-temperate to subtropical. Frost-free
Maintenance: Low. Remove tatty leaves. Divide every three to four years
Best for: Bold-leaf tropical accents, layered pool plantings, lush rainforest feel, pot specimens

Why choose it

Most pool palettes are fine-foliaged. Alocasia delivers the opposite — massive leaves that catch the eye and break the visual rhythm. The single plant turns a tropical pool palette from collected to designed, and reads as the holiday memory it's meant to evoke.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully at the base of Archontophoenix cunninghamiana or Strelitzia nicolai, with Dicksonia antarctica in the shaded corners, and Bougainvillea on the back wall.

Tips for planting

Plant in part shade or filtered light. Consistent moisture matters. Mulch heavily. Equally happy in the ground or oversized pots.

The bold-leaf tropical accent. Holiday memory in a single plant.

Shop Alocasia macrorrhizos

12. Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)

Washingtonia robusta is the iconic California resort palm — the silhouette every backyard pool secretly wants. Tall slender trunk topped with a perfect crown of green fan-shaped fronds, fast establishment, and the kind of pure vertical drama that makes a pool area photograph beautifully every time.

Type: Tall iconic fan palm
Height: 10 to 20m
Width: 3 to 5m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Large green fan-shaped fronds on a tall slender trunk
Form: Tall single-trunk fan palm with classic California resort silhouette
Conditions: Full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Heat-tolerant
Maintenance: Low. Periodic frond trim as the canopy lifts
Best for: Statement tropical poolside features, resort silhouettes, vertical pool drama

Why choose it

Few palms match the Mexican Fan for instant tropical resort presence. The vertical silhouette draws the eye from the house to the pool, the fan-shaped fronds catch reflected light beautifully, and the fast growth gets the holiday silhouette in place quickly. The signature palm of Palm Springs and Los Angeles for a reason.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with Phoenix roebellenii at lower scale for textural palm layering, Agave desmettiana at the base for sculptural ground accents, and Bougainvillea on back walls.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun with sharp drainage. Water through the first two summers, then taper off. Allow vertical clearance for the mature trunk height.

The Palm Springs silhouette in a backyard pool.

Shop Washingtonia robusta

13. Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail Palm)

Beaucarnea recurvata is the sculptural pool plant that asks for almost nothing. The Ponytail Palm carries a bulbous water-storing trunk topped with cascading narrow green leaves — a piece of living sculpture that thrives on reflected heat and rewards complete neglect with a steadily improving silhouette.

Type: Sculptural drought-tolerant feature
Height: 1.5 to 4m
Width: 1 to 2m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Long cascading narrow green leaves spilling from a sculptural swollen base
Form: Bulbous water-storing trunk topped with a cascading ponytail of foliage
Conditions: Full sun. Sharp drainage. Extremely drought tolerant
Maintenance: Very low. Almost no intervention needed
Best for: Sculptural pot specimens, drought-wise pool surrounds, modern resort schemes

Why choose it

Pure sculptural form on a plant that handles pool surrounds better than almost anything. The bulbous trunk reads as a piece of design from day one, the cascading leaves catch reflected pool light, and the plant gets more characterful every year on no irrigation at all. The lowest-maintenance pool feature in the catalogue.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully alongside Agave desmettiana and Cycas revoluta for a layered sculptural pool palette, with Washingtonia robusta for the vertical silhouette behind.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun with sharp drainage. The bulbous trunk stores water, so it prefers dry feet between waterings. Equally happy in the ground or oversized pots.

Sculptural form on a plant that asks for nothing.

Shop Beaucarnea recurvata

How to plant and care for them

Pick the position by light

Most tropical pool plants want full sun — Washingtonia, Bougainvillea, Frangipani, Agave, Beaucarnea, Strelitzia, Cycas, Phoenix. Bangalow Palm prefers part shade or filtered light. Dicksonia and Alocasia want part to full shade. Match the position to the species.

Prepare the planting hole

Dig the hole twice the width of the rootball and the same depth. Mix the original soil with aged compost rather than replacing it. On clay sites, add coarse sand or grit to lift drainage — most tropical plants want sharp drainage.

Plant level

Set the rootball so the top sits level with surrounding soil, never deeper. Backfill with the soil and compost mix and leave a watering well at the surface.

Water in deeply at planting

Soak the rootball thoroughly so the new soil settles around the roots. Top up the watering well twice in the first day if the soil drinks fast. Summer planting is particularly strong because soils are warm and roots grow at their fastest rate.

Mulch out to the drip line

Lay 75 to 100mm of organic mulch from 50mm clear of the trunk out to the drip line. Mulch keeps roots cool, holds moisture and feeds the soil. Use coarse pebble or gravel mulch around Agave, Beaucarnea and Cycas for the Mediterranean tropical look.

Water deeply through the first two summers

Twice a week deep watering in warm weather, once a week in mild weather, through the first two summers. After establishment, palms and Frangipani hold their own on rainfall. Agave, Beaucarnea and Cycas prefer it dry once anchored.

Frost protection while young

Most tropical species prefer frost-free positions when young. In cooler climates, plant against a north-facing warm wall or use a frost cloth through the first two winters. Once mature, most of these will tolerate light frost.

Light shaping only

Remove spent fronds from palms at the base. Remove tatty leaves from Strelitzia, Alocasia and Dicksonia as needed. Frangipani takes a single light shaping prune in late winter. Bougainvillea benefits from a light prune after the main flowering flush. Resist the urge to hard prune — the natural form is the look.

The wrap up

The 12 tropical picks layer into a resort feel. Strelitzia nicolai, Washingtonia robusta and Bangalow Palm hold the architectural anchors. Frangipani and Bougainvillea deliver fragrance and tropical colour. Phoenix roebellenii and Cycas revoluta layer at mid-scale. Alocasia macrorrhizos breaks the fine-foliage rhythm with bold leaves. Dicksonia antarctica fills the shaded corners with rainforest lushness. Agave desmettiana and Beaucarnea sit at ground level as sculptural anchors. Waterhousea floribunda frames the lot with a soft native back-of-pool screen.

Pick five or six from the list that suit your climate and your pool aspect. The discipline is repetition — plant each species at least twice through the layout for the resort planting to read as designed, not collected.

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Best Trees to Plant Poolside: 13 Tropical Picks for a Resort Vibe

Compare at a glance

1. Strelitzia nicolai (Giant White Bird of Paradise)

2. Phoenix roebelenii (Pygmy Date Palm)

3. Plumeria rubra (Frangipani)

4. Agave desmettiana 'El Miradores Gold' (Golden Smooth Agave (attenuata-style))

5. Bougainvillea 'Purple Cascade' (Bougainvillea)

6. Bougainvillea 'White Cascade' (White Cascade Bougainvillea)

7. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

8. Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm)

9. Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (Bangalow Palm)

10. Dicksonia antarctica (Soft Tree Fern)

11. Alocasia macrorrhizos (Giant Elephant Ear)

12. Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)

13. Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail Palm)

How to plant and care for them

The wrap up

Tropical

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