21 Planters Around Pool Ideas

Looking to spruce up your pool area? These 21 planters around pool ideas will transform your swimming spot into a green oasis. You’ll find options for every style and budget that add color, texture, and life to your backyard retreat.

Tall Potted Palms

Tall palm trees in stylish pots make your pool feel like a tropical getaway.

You can place them at the corners of your pool deck for a balanced look.

The height draws your eyes up, making your pool area feel bigger.

Plus, they provide bits of shade on hot summer days.

Colorful Flower Boxes

Flower boxes bring a pop of color to your pool’s edge.

You can plant bright annuals like petunias, marigolds, or zinnias for constant color all summer.

These boxes work great along straight edges of your pool or on nearby walls.

Water them regularly since pool-side spots can get extra hot.

Hanging Basket Gardens

Hanging baskets save precious deck space while adding greenery overhead.

You can hang them from pergolas, posts, or shepherd’s hooks around your pool.

Pick trailing plants like sweet potato vine or wave petunias that will create flowing curtains of color.

Remember to water them daily in hot weather.

Modern Concrete Planters

Concrete planters add a sleek, modern touch to your pool area.

Their neutral color works with any style, and they’re heavy enough to withstand pool splashes and wind.

You can arrange them in groups of different heights for visual interest.

Fill them with drought-tolerant plants that don’t mind the heat.

Terra Cotta Pot Clusters

Terra cotta pots bring warmth and a touch of the Mediterranean to your pool.

Group different sizes together for a casual, collected look.

The porous material helps keep plant roots cool despite the hot pool deck.

You can easily move these around when hosting pool parties.

Built-In Planter Walls

Built-in planters create a seamless look between your pool and garden.

These permanent features can serve as privacy screens or space dividers.

You can plant them with tall grasses for movement or flowering shrubs for color.

The solid construction handles splashing and provides seating edges too.

Tropical Plant Containers

Big pots with tropical plants turn your pool into a paradise.

Banana trees, birds of paradise, and hibiscus create that vacation vibe you love.

You can place these statement containers at pool entry points or gathering areas.

In cold climates, you’ll need to bring these plants indoors for winter.

Succulent Bowl Gardens

Succulent bowls are perfect pool companions since they need little water.

You can create miniature landscapes with different colors and textures in shallow bowls.

These low-maintenance planters handle heat and sun exposure well.

Their compact size makes them easy to place on tables or steps.

Floating Pool Planters

Floating planters bring plants right onto your water surface.

You can grow water lilies, floating lettuce, or other aquatic plants in these special containers.

They drift around naturally with the water movement.

These planters help shade the water, reducing algae growth and keeping your pool cooler.

Vertical Garden Walls

Vertical gardens make the most of limited pool deck space.

You can install pocket systems on nearby walls to grow dozens of plants upward instead of outward.

These living walls create amazing backdrops for your pool area.

Choose shade-loving plants for walls that don’t get full sun.

Rustic Wooden Barrel Planters

Wooden barrel planters add country charm to your pool area.

Their rustic look contrasts nicely with the sleek water surface.

You can fill them with bright annuals or trailing vines for a cottage garden feel.

Place them at the corners of your pool deck or along nearby pathways.

Dramatic Ornamental Grass Containers

Ornamental grasses create movement and sound around your pool.

The tall blades dance in the breeze, adding a sense of calm.

You can plant varieties like maiden grass or fountain grass in large containers.

Their height provides privacy without blocking views like solid fences would.

Herb Garden Planters

Herb planters bring fragrance and function to your pool deck.

You can snip fresh mint for poolside mojitos or basil for snacks.

Place these containers near your outdoor kitchen or seating areas.

The herbs’ scents help mask pool chemicals and repel some insects naturally.

Upcycled Container Gardens

Upcycled containers add personality and eco-friendly style to your pool area.

You can transform old wheelbarrows, metal tubs, or wooden crates into unique planters.

These conversation pieces reflect your creativity.

Make sure to drill drainage holes and line metal containers to prevent rust stains.

Stone Trough Planters

Stone troughs bring old-world elegance to your pool landscape.

Their substantial presence anchors seating areas or walkways.

You can plant them with lavender, rosemary, or other Mediterranean plants that love good drainage.

The stone stays cool and weathers beautifully over time.

Illuminated Planters

Light-up planters add magic to evening swims.

These containers have built-in LEDs that glow after sunset.

You can place them strategically to light pathways or highlight special areas.

The soft light creates reflections on the water surface, doubling the visual impact.

Bamboo Container Screens

Bamboo in containers creates living privacy screens around your pool.

You can position these tall planters to block unwanted views or create private zones.

The bamboo rustles softly in the breeze, adding gentle sounds to your pool area.

Choose clumping varieties that won’t spread uncontrollably.

Decorative Iron Plant Stands

Iron plant stands add vertical interest and old-world charm.

You can arrange these decorative pieces at different heights to create visual layers.

The elevated pots stay drier from splashes and are easier to maintain.

Their dark color provides nice contrast against light pool decking.

Small Tree Containers

Potted small trees frame your pool with living architecture.

Dwarf varieties of citrus, olive, or Japanese maple work well in containers.

You can position them to mark entrances or define spaces around your pool.

These provide shade, visual height, and sometimes fragrant flowers or fruit.

Cascading Flower Baskets

Cascading flower baskets create curtains of color around your pool.

You can hang these dramatic planters from pergolas or special stands.

The flowers spill downward, softening hard edges of pool equipment or structures.

Water these daily in summer as they dry out quickly in hot areas.

Child-Friendly Herb Spiral

Herb spirals combine fun shapes with useful plants near your pool.

You can build this raised planter in a spiral pattern using stones or bricks.

The different levels create micro-climates for various herbs.

Children enjoy helping water these safe, non-toxic plants between swimming sessions.