A pool is the easy part. What turns it into the centre of a Perth summer is everything around it, the planting, the paving, the shade, and the screening that make it feel like a private resort rather than a fenced rectangle of water. The catch is that the pool environment is harsh: chlorine and saltwater splash, intense reflected heat off the water and paving, and a sea breeze that carries salt across much of the metro area. Plenty of pool gardens look great on install day and tired within two summers because they ignore that.
These pool landscaping ideas are built for Perth conditions, drawn from more than 30 years designing and building pool surrounds across the city. Get the plants, materials, and layout right from the start and you end up with a poolside that stays lush, safe underfoot, and low-mess for years.
Modern Perth pool with feature wall and timber deck surround Landscape By Design
Key Takeaways
Plan the pool surround as one connected space, not a series of separate add-ons.
The best poolside plants are salt and chlorine tolerant, low-mess, and have non-invasive roots that will not lift paving or damage the pool shell.
Layer planting in three tiers, a tall screening layer, a mid shrub layer, and a low groundcover layer, so the garden reads well every month of the year.
Choose surround materials that stay cool underfoot and slip-resistant when wet, such as liquid limestone and travertine.
Shade, lighting, and screening are what extend a pool area from a midday swim spot into an all-day, all-evening living zone.
Plan the pool surround as one connected space
The most common pool landscaping mistake is treating the surround as an afterthought, adding a few pots and a strip of lawn once the pool is in. The result feels disjointed. A pool area works best when the coping, paving, planting, shade, and seating are designed together so the whole zone flows.
Start by deciding how you will use it. A family pool needs clear sight lines from the house to the water and durable surfaces underfoot. An entertainer’s pool wants a generous paved lounging area, a shaded seating spot, and maybe an outdoor kitchen close by. Mapping that first tells you where the planting goes, where the hard surfaces go, and where you need shade, so every element has a job.
Resort style pool with lush poolside planting Perth Landscape By Design
Choose the right poolside plants for Perth
Plant choice is where most Perth pool gardens succeed or fail. The pool environment punishes the wrong species: chlorine and salt splash, glaring reflected heat, and wind all take their toll. The best poolside plants are sun-hardy, low-mess, salt and chlorine tolerant, and, crucially, have non-invasive root systems that will not crack paving or damage the pool shell over time.
The tall layer: screening and structure
Tall, slim plants give the pool privacy and a tropical or resort backdrop without dropping leaf litter into the water. Lilly pilly makes a dense evergreen screen, while slim columnar trees and clumping non-invasive bamboo alternatives create height in a narrow footprint. Palms are a classic poolside choice, thriving in heat and reflected light and giving instant holiday feel, and cycads add a sculptural, low-mess accent that handles full sun.
The mid layer: shrubs and feature plants
The mid layer carries the colour and texture. Westringia is a tough, salt-tolerant native that clips into soft mounds, gardenia florida brings fragrance near the seating area, and murraya forms a glossy, hardy hedge. These evergreen shrubs frame the pool and stay presentable through winter when the garden is quieter.
The low layer: groundcovers and succulents
At ground level, hardy groundcovers and succulents knit the planting together and shade the soil. Dwarf agapanthus and liriope form a clean, low-water border along paving edges, star jasmine softens walls and fences with scent, and architectural succulents such as agave, aloe, and yucca thrive on neglect in the hottest, most exposed pockets. Their silvery, waxy foliage is exactly what copes best with salt and chlorine.
Pool plants to avoid in Perth
Some plants look the part but cause expensive problems. Avoid trees and species with aggressive roots, such as rubber trees, umbrella trees, and running bamboo, because their roots can lift paving, crack the pool shell, and invade underground plumbing. Steer clear of messy, deciduous, or heavy-flowering plants that constantly drop leaves, petals, and seed pods into the water and clog the filter. When in doubt, choose evergreen, low-mess, and non-invasive every time.
Pick surround materials that stay cool and safe
Underfoot comfort and safety matter more around a pool than anywhere else in the garden, because everyone is barefoot and the surfaces are wet. Liquid limestone is the Perth favourite for exactly this reason: it is seamless, stays noticeably cooler than dark pavers in summer sun, and offers good grip. Travertine paving is the other go-to, naturally cool, slip-resistant, and softening the look with its European tones.
For a warmer, more organic feel, composite or timber decking raises a lounging zone beside the water and is gentle on bare feet. Whichever you choose, the pool coping, the edge that frames the waterline, should tie in with the surround material and be rounded and slip-resistant for safety. Carrying one material palette across the whole pool area is what makes it feel designed rather than assembled.
Pool with timber deck and screening plants Perth Landscape By Design
Create privacy and a resort feel with screening
Privacy is what separates a pool you use from one you feel watched in. With Perth blocks getting tighter and two-storey homes overlooking back gardens, screening is often the highest-impact idea on this list. Combine a green screen of lilly pilly or clumping bamboo with built elements such as slatted timber panels, a feature wall, or a louvred screen to block sightlines fast.
That same screening is what creates the resort feeling. Enclosing the pool with layered planting and a shaded structure turns it into a destination at the back of the property, a place that feels separate from the house and the street.
Add shade and structure to the pool area
Perth sun is fierce, and an unshaded pool area is unusable for big chunks of the day in summer. A shade structure extends the hours you can actually sit by the water. A cabana or poolside pavilion gives a permanent shaded lounge, a pergola or shade sail throws lighter cover over a paved area, and well-placed trees offer natural, cooling shade as they mature. Building shade into the plan from the start, rather than bolting on an umbrella later, keeps the pool area looking considered.
Light the pool area for night use
So much of Perth’s pool season happens after the sun drops, which makes lighting one of the best pool landscaping investments. Layer it: warm uplights on feature palms and walls for atmosphere, soft path and step lighting for safety, and in-pool or water lighting for effect. Keep the tone warm and the fittings discreet, and the pool area becomes as inviting at 9pm as it is at midday, doubling the hours the space earns its keep.
Keep the pool surround low-mess and low-maintenance
A low-maintenance pool garden is mostly about decisions made early. Choosing evergreen, low-litter plants keeps debris out of the water and the filter. Grouping plants by water need and running efficient reticulation keeps everything healthy on Perth’s allowed watering days without waste. Mulched garden beds rather than fussy planting reduce weeding, and quality paving with the right falls keeps water moving away from the house. Done well, the surround looks after itself far more than it looks after you.
Small pool and courtyard pool ideas
A plunge pool or small courtyard pool can deliver the same lift as a full-size pool on a compact Perth block. The design rules tighten: use vertical greenery and wall-mounted planting to save floor space, choose one cool-toned paving material and run it edge to edge, and pick a single feature plant or a tight palette rather than a crowd of competing species. A water blade or wall spout adds the sound and movement of a larger pool, and good lighting makes even a small pool area feel like a private retreat.
Bringing your pool landscape together
The ideas above deliver the most when they are designed as one scheme, with the planting, surround materials, shade, screening, and lighting all chosen to work together and to suit your block, your aspect, and how you want to use the space. Getting the falls, drainage, and coping right around a pool is technical work, and it is far easier to plan it properly than to retrofit it once the paving is down.
That is what we do every day for Perth homeowners. Whether you are landscaping around a brand-new pool or refreshing a tired surround, the starting point is a clear design that turns these ideas into a poolside built to last.
Pool design ideas that create a focal point
Beyond the planting and paving, a few design moves give a swimming pool real visual impact and turn it into the focal point of the outdoor space. A raised spa, a water blade, or a feature wall in natural stone draws the eye and adds the sound of moving water for relaxation and ambience. Ornamental grasses planted in drifts soften hard edges and catch the afternoon light, while a non slip surface around the waterline keeps the pool area safe when you are entertaining friends.
Uplit feature plants and a single sculptural specimen tree, while avoiding messy deciduous trees, give the pool a year round presence that looks as good in winter as it does full in summer. This is where the hardscape and planting work together: thoughtful poolside landscaping like this is what lifts a functional pool into a beautiful pool the whole household takes immense pride in.
Our pool landscaping process in Perth
Bringing a pool landscape to life is a collaborative process. It starts with understanding your vision, your block, and your budget, then moves through a clear design process where the planting, hardscape, and surround materials are resolved on paper before any work begins. As an experienced team, we manage the entire project, including any council approvals and the construction service required, from the first concept through to completion.
Our pool landscaping services cover the full landscaping design and build, and our clients consistently tell us the finished pool design enhances their lifestyle and adds lasting value to their property. If a pool transformation is on your list, the next step is simply to make contact and talk through what you want the space to become.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best plants to put around a pool in Perth?
The best poolside plants for Perth are salt and chlorine tolerant, low-mess, and non-invasive. Reliable choices include lilly pilly and murraya for screening, westringia and gardenia for the mid layer, and dwarf agapanthus, liriope, and succulents such as agave and yucca at ground level. Palms and cycads suit the heat and reflected light and give a resort feel without dropping mess into the water.
Which plants should I avoid planting near a pool?
Avoid trees and plants with aggressive roots, such as rubber trees, umbrella trees, and running bamboo, because their roots can lift paving, crack the pool shell, and invade plumbing. Also avoid messy deciduous and heavy-flowering plants that constantly drop leaves, petals, and seed pods into the water, as they clog filters and increase cleaning. Evergreen, low-litter, non-invasive species are the safe choice.
What is the best paving for around a Perth pool?
Liquid limestone and travertine are the most popular pool surrounds in Perth because both stay cooler underfoot than dark pavers and offer good slip resistance when wet. Composite or timber decking is a comfortable option for raised lounging zones. Whatever you choose, the pool coping should match the surround, be rounded, and be slip-resistant for safety around the water’s edge.
How do I make my pool area look like a resort?
Layered planting, screening, shade, and lighting create the resort feel. Frame the pool with tiers of evergreen plants for privacy, add a cabana, pergola, or shade sail, run one cool-toned paving material throughout, and layer warm lighting for the evening. Enclosing the space so it feels separate from the house, with palms and lush low-mess planting, is what turns a backyard pool into a private retreat.
Are pool plants safe for saltwater pools?
Saltwater pools need plants that tolerate salt spray as well as chlorine. Species with silvery, waxy, or furry foliage cope best, including yuccas, aloe, agave, and cycads, and palms handle coastal salt well too. Many hardy Perth natives such as westringia are naturally salt-tolerant. Positioning splash-sensitive plants slightly back from the waterline and improving drainage also helps them thrive.
How much maintenance does pool landscaping need?
A well-designed pool surround is low-maintenance by design. Choosing evergreen, low-litter, non-invasive plants keeps debris out of the water, grouping plants by water need with efficient reticulation cuts watering, and mulched beds reduce weeding. The biggest maintenance savings come from getting the plant selection and drainage right at the design stage rather than fixing problems later.
