Plants for COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Poolside Landscapes

ISSUED A UGUST, 1998 BY: PUBLICATION AZ1058 Lucy Bradley, Agent 8/98 Urban Horticulture Landscaping is the finishing touch to 8. Any plants that do have a small amount your backyard oasis. Your pool will be of seasonal litter (the bloom on the Texas even more inviting when surrounded by Ebony Tree, for example) should be ag.arizona.edu/pubs/ garden/az1058.pdf the right plants. Create a landscape that planted down wind from the pool. frames your pool and makes it the focal 9. To minimize the amount of litter from point of your yard. At the same time, you palm trees, keep the fronds pruned and will want to choose plants that work well This information remove the flowers before seeds are set. has been reviewed by with your watering regimen and, espe- university faculty. cially, that will work well with your pool. 10. “Desert Landscaping — Plants for a water scarce environment,” a CD-ROM 1. Your pool and deck reflect a by The University of Arizona, is an tremendous amount of the already- excellent tool for helping you to select the intense Arizona sun. Choose plants appropriate plant. Search by plant name, that can take it. browse award-winning landscapes, 2. Pick plants with a minimum of litter or compare groups of similar plants, or use that drop all their leaves at one time so the plant selector to precisely describe you only have to clean up once a year. the plants you seek. The rich multimedia Constant leaf drop will necessitate database includes plant size and growth constant cleaning and, if you get rate, soil and sun requirements, irrigation behind, will dirty your pool and needs, place of origin, allergens, wildlife possibly clog its equipment. interactions, and dozens of other useful factors. 3. Plan for year round color and interest. Avoid landscapes that bloom only 11. Visit the Maricopa County Cooperative seasonably — you have to live with it Extension home horticulture website: the whole year! http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/ garden/ for excellent information on 4. Choose low-water-use plants that will Environmentally Responsible Gardening not require heavy irrigation around the and Landscaping in the Low Desert. XTENSION pool. Too much water can damage your pool decking or equipment. “Desert Landscaping” is available from many E COUNTY 5. Choose plants with showy flowers.

retail outlets or may be ordered from the These are generally pollinated by an Maricopa County Master Gardeners or the animal (as opposed to the wind) and Water Resources Research Center. To place are much cleaner and less likely to a mail order, send a check or money order cause allergies. for $25.00 made out to The University of Arizona to either: 6. Cacti and succulents are excellent MARICOPA choices. They thrive in the high light, Desert Landscaping CD-Rom require minimal irrigation, produce Maricopa County Master Gardeners almost no litter, are attractive year The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension round, and many have fabulous 4341 E. Broadway Road blooms. Phoenix, AZ 85040

OOPERATIVE 7. Plant cacti far enough away from the Desert Landscaping CD-Rom 4341 E. Broadway Road • Phoenix, AZ 85040-8807 • 602.470.8086 ext.301 Road • Phoenix, Broadway 4341 E. path to prevent accidental injury to Water Resources Research Center

C people or damage to beach balls. The University of Arizona 350 N. Campbell Tucson, AZ 85719-5633 Some Suggested Plants for Encelia farinosa, Brittlebush Poolside Landscapes Ericameria laricifolia, Turpentine bush Fallugia paradoxa, Apache plume Fatsia japonica, Japanese aralia Trees Feijoa sellowiana, Pineapple guava Fouquieria splendens, Ocotillo Acacia Justicia californica, Chuparosa Acacia abyssinica, Abyssinian acacia Justicia candicans, Red Justicia Acacia aneura, Mulga Justicia spicigera, Mexican honeysuckle Acacia pendula, Weeping acacia Lantana camara, Bush lantana Acacia salicina, Willow acacia Larrea tridentata, Creosote bush Acacia stenophylla, Shoestring acacia Leucophyllum candidum, Silver cloud, sage Brahea armata, Mexican blue palm Leucophyllum frutescens, Texas ranger/Texas sage Butia capitata, Pindo Palm Leucophyllum laevigatum, Chihuahuan sage Caesalpinia cacalaco, Cascalote Nandina spp., Heavenly bamboo Chamaerops humilis, Mediterranean fan palm Rhus ovata, Sugar Bush Chorisia speciosa, Silk floss tree Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary Eucalyptus Ruellia peninsularis, Desert ruellia Eucalyptus erythrocorys, Red-cap gum/Illyarrie Salvia Eucalyptus formanii, Forman’s Eucalyptus Salvia chaemedryoides, Blue sage Eucalyptus leucoxylon, ‘Rosea’, White Ironbark Salvia clevelandii, Chaparral sage Eucalyptus spathulata, Swamp mallee Salvia coccinea, Cherry Red sage Eucalyptus torquata, Coral Flowered Gum Salvia farinacea, Mealycup sage Eucalyptus woodwardii, Lemom Flowered Gum Salvia greggii, Autumn sage Geijera parviflora, Australian willow Salvia leucantha, Mexican Bush sage Leucaena retusa, Golden leadball Santolina spp. Lavender cotton Lysiloma watsonii, Desert Fern Simmondsia chinensis, Jojoba Olneya tesota, Iron Wood Sophora secundiflora, Texas Mountain Laurel Phoenix canariensis, Canary Island Date Palm Sphaeralcea ambigua, Globe Mallow Phoenix dactylifera, Date Palm Tagetes lemmonii, Mountain marigold Pistacia lentiscus, Mastic Tecoma stans v. angustata, Arizona Yellow Bells Pithecellobium flexicaule, Texas Ebony Tecomaria capensis, Cape honeysuckle Quercus virginiana, Southern Live Oak Vauquelinia californica, Arizona rosewood Trachycarpus fortunei, Windmill palm Zauschneria californica, California fuchsia

Shrubs Groundcovers Asclepias linaria, Pine leaf milkweed Baileya multiradiata, Desert marigold Buddleia marrubifolia, Wooly butterfly bush Dalea greggii, Trailing indigo bush Caesalpinia gilliesii, Desert or Yellow bird of Drosanthemum speciosum, Iceplant paradise Dyssodia pentachaeta, Golden Fleece Caesalpinia mexicana, Mexican bird of paradise Gazania rigens, Gazania Calliandra californica, Red fairy duster Lantana montevidensis, Trailing Lantana Calliandra eriophylla, Fairy duster Melampodium leucanthum, Blackfoot Daisy Carissa grandiflora, Natal Plum Myoporum parvifolium, Prostrate myoporum Convolvulus cneorum, Bush morning glory Oenothera berlandieri, Mexican primrose Cordia parvifolia, Littleleaf cordia Oenothera caespitosa, Prostrate evening primrose Dalea frutescens, Black dalea Oenothera stubbei, Satillo evening primrose Dalea greggii, Trailing indigo bush Rosmarinus prostatus, Prostrate rosemary Dalea pulchra, Bush dalea Ruellia brittoniana ‘kati’, Kati ruellia Dodonaea viscosa, Hop bush Stachys coccinea, Texas betony Dodonaea viscosa ‘purpurea’, Purple hop bush 2 • The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Verbena Aloe saponaria, Tiger aloe Verbena gooddingii, Gooding verbena Asclepias subulata, Desert Milk Weed Verbena peruviana, Peruvian verbena Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’, Foxtail/Asparagus Verbena pulchella, Moss verbena Fern Verbena rigida, Sandpaper Verbena Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’, Sprenger Phlomis fruticosa, Jerusalem sage asparagus Zinnia grandiflora, Prairie Zinna Cereus hildmannianus, Hildmann’s Cereus Cycas revoluta, Sago palm Dasylirion wheeleri, Desert spoon Dasylirion longissimum, Mexican Grass Tree Vines Echinocactus grusonii, Golden barrel cactus Merremia aurea, Yellow morning glory vine Echinocereus engelmannii, Hedgehog cactus Podranea ricasoliana, Pink Trumpet Vine Echinopsis multiplex, Easter lily cactus Ferocactus acanthodes, Compass barrel cactus Ferocactus wislizeni, Fishhook barrel cactus Hesperaloe parviflora, Red or Yellow Yucca Flowers Lophocereus schottii forma monstrosus, Totem Pole Muhlenbergia rigens, Deer Grass Anisacanthus quadrifidus v. wrightii, Desert Nolina spp., Grass Tree Honeysuckle Opuntia Aquilegia chrysantha, Golden columbine Opuntia acanthocarpa, Buckhorn cholla Cannaceae, Canna lilies Opuntia basilaris, Beavertail Prickly Pear Dietes bicolor, Evergreen Iris/Fortnight lily Opuntia ficus-indica, Indian fig Dyssodia tenuiloba, Golden fleece Opuntia engelmanii, Prickly pear cactus Erigeron spp., Fleabane Opuntia Santa-rita, Purple prickly pear Gazania spp., Gazania Stenocereus marginatus, Mexican Organ Pipe Hymenoxys acaulis., Angelita daisy Trichocereus candicans, Iris germanica, Bearded iris Trichocereus huasha hyb., Melampodium leucanthum, Black Food Daisy Yucca Penstemon Yucca aloifolia, Spanish Bayonet Penstemon baccharifolius, Yucca baccata, Banana yucca Penstemon eatoni, Firecracker penstemon Yucca brevifolia, Joshua tree Penstemon palmeri, Palmer’s penstemon Yucca elata, Soaptree yucca Penstemon parryi, Parry’s penstemon Yucca recurvifolia, Pendulous yucca Penstemon pseudospectabilis, Desert penstemon Yucca rigida, Blue yucca Penstemon superbus, Superb penstemon Psilostrophe cooperi, Paper flower Zephyranthes spp. Rain lily Some Plants to Keep Far Away from Your Pool Accent Plants Acacia farnesiana, Sweet acacia Agave Bauhinia spp., Orchid tree Agave americana, Century plant Bougainvillea brasiliensis, Bougainvillea Agave bovicornuta, Cowshorn agave Brachychiton populneus, Bottle tree Agave colorata, Mescal ceniza Callistemon spp., Bottlebrush Agave desmettiana, Ceratonia siliqua, Carob tree Agave parryi, Parry’s Agave Fraxinus, spp., Ash Agave victoriae-reginae, Queen victoria agave Jacaranda mimosifolia, Jacaranda Agave vilmoriniana, Octopus agave Prosopis spp., Mesquites Aloe Ulmus parviflora, Evergreen/Chinese Elm Aloe vera, medicinal aloe Vitex agnus-castus, Chaste tree/Monk’s Pepper Aloe ferox, Tree aloe

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension • 3 References Many thanks to Selby Saubolle, Designer for Poco Verde Land Scape, Tempe, AZ, Kent Newland, Xeriscape Gardens: Plants for the Desert Southwest, Water Resources Specialist for the City of Arizona Municipal Water Users Association Phoenix, Terry Mikel, Extension Agent, Commercial Horticulture, The University of Brenzel, K. N. (ed.).(1995) Sunset Western Garden Arizona Cooperative Extension Maricopa County Book and Libby Davison, Adjunct Instructor, More than 6,000 plants listed, keyed to 24 Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Western climate zones, climate maps, 2,500 Arizona, who each provided input and guidance color photos, illustrations, charts, and diagrams, in the development of this publication. 50,000 plant facts, complete guide to plant selection and hundreds of how-to tips and techniques. ISBN 0-376-03851-9

Desert Landscaping, Plants for a Water-Scarce Environment, CD by the Water Resources Research Center, The University of Arizona College of Agriculture

“Environmentally Responsible Gardening and Landscaping for the Low Desert”, The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Maricopa County Home Horticulture Website: http:// ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture is an equal opportunity employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin, age, Vietnam Era Veteran’s status, or disability. Any products, services, or organizations that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied in this publication do not imply endorsement by The University of Arizona.

4 • The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension