Trees for Pools

I am regularly asked to recommend trees for around a swimming pool. Most people ask for an evergreen tree.

I would like to make an argument for deciduous trees. Remember that although trees may be evergreen they do drop the old leaves and grow new ones and this is an ongoing process throughout the year, while a deciduous tree drops all its leaves in a short space of time.

I think it is better to cope with the leaves for 2 or 3 weeks until the deciduous tree is bare. Most people do not swim in winter and the shade is not essential during winter when the tree is bare. Choosing a tree with pretty bark or good architecture adds another dimension to the winter garden. Come spring when we are ready to jump in the pool the tree starts shooting and we have that lovely shade tree in the pool area. If you have an evergreen tree you will have to contend with some leaf drop in the pool throughout the year.

Another important issue is root systems. It is obviously better to have a tree with a non-aggressive or fibrous root system, but this can be subjective as things like soil type and structure can affect whether the roots stay near the surface. Having said all this the distance away from the pool we want to plant the tree is also critical not only for the root system but also for shading the pool and making the water cold.

Try and keep your trees a minimum of 2 meters away from the pool. If this is not possible make sure the tree you use has non-aggressive roots. You could also use a product called ‘Bio Barrier’ to keep the roots away from the pool.

The texture of the leaves on an evergreen tree is important. If you plant a tree which has small, thinly textured leaves they are not a problem as most of them disintegrate before they fall, unless the crown of the tree hangs over the pool when they will, indeed fall in the pool but should not cause problems. The seeds however can be an issue if the tree hangs over the pool.

Remember flowers can also be quite a problem in the pool for the same reasons as the leaves. It is better to stick to small or thinly textured flowers.

Most trees flower for a relatively short time and you may feel it is worth it to cope with the flowers in the pool during flowering time for the rewards of the beauty of the flowers as well as the many birds and butterflies that they attract.

Random Harvest Retail Indigenous Nursery Trees for Pools

Here is the list. Click through to Part 2 - 5 for descriptions and more details.

Species		Common Names
Full descriptions on the trees below can be found here: Indigenous Trees for Pools - Part 2
Acacia xanthophloea
Apodytes dimidiata		White Pear (E), Witpeer (A); umDakane (Z); Tshiphopho-madi (V)
Berchemia zeyheri		Red Ivory (E), Rooi Ivoor (A), umNeyi (Z) umNini (X),Monee (NS) Nybuabe (V)
Bolusanthus speciosus		Tree Wisteria (E), Van Wykshout (A), Umhohlo (Z)
Buddleja saligna		False Olive (E), Witolienhout (A), UmNceba (Z)
Calpurnea aurea		Geelkeur (A); Calpurnia (E); muhalika (V); idywadi (X); umkhiphampethu (Z)
Clerodendrum glabrum		Tinderwood (E), Tontelhout (A), uQangazana (Z)
Combretum hereroense		Kierieklapper (A); Mouse-eared bushwillow (E); mokabi (Tsw); mugavhi (V); umhlalavane (Z)
Croton gratissimus		Lavender Fever Berry (E); Laventelkoorsbessie (A); mufhorola (V); moologa (Tsw); umahlabekufeni (Z)
Dais cotinifolia		Pompon tree (E); Kannabas (A); inTozane-emnyama (Z)
Deinbollia oblongifolia		Dune Soapberry (E); Duineseepbessie (A); iqinisamasimu (Z); umasibele (X)
Full descriptions on the trees below can be found here: Recommended Indigenous Trees for Pools - Part 3
Diospyros whyteana		Bladder-Nut (E); Swartbas (A); munyavhili (V); umKhaze (Z); umTenatane (X); Mohlatsane (NS)
Dombeya cymosa		Natal Wild Pear (E) , Nataldrolpeer (A), iBunda (Z), uZingathi (X)
Dombeya tiliacea		Forest Wild Pear (E); Bosdrolpeer (A); iBunda (Z); uTyibo (X)
Ekebergia capensis		Cape ash (E); Essenhout (A); mutovuma (V); umnyamathi (Z)
Euclea crispa		Blue Guarri (E); Bloughwarrie (A); mutangule-nyele (V); motlhaletsogane (Tsw); umshekisane (Z)
Euclea natalensis		Natal Ebony (E); Natalghwarrie (A); mutangule-thavha (V); motlhakola (Tsw); iDungamuzi (Z)
Freylinia lanceolata		Honeybells (E), Heuningklokkiesbos (A)
Galpinia transvaalica		Wild Pride of India (E), Transvaalliguster (A), umHlope (Z)
Gardenia volkensii		Bushveld Gardenia (E); Bosveldkatjiepiering (A); tshiralala (V); morala (Tsw); imvalasangweni (Z)
Gonioma kamassii		Kamassi (E); Kamassie (A); umGonwane (Z); igala-gala (X)
Full descriptions on the trees below can be found here: Recommended Indigenous Trees for Pools - Part 4
Halleria lucida		Tree-Fuchia (E); Notsung (A); Murevhe (V); Leloetsi (S)
Heteromorpha trifoliolata		Common Parsleytree (E); Gewone Pietersielieboom (A); muthatha-vhanna (V); Serethe (Tsw); umbangandlala (Z)
Heteropyxis canescens		Forest Lavender Tree (E); Boslaventelboom (A); Inkunzana (Sw)
Heteropyxis natalensis		Lavender Tree (E); Laventelboom (A); mudedede(V); inkhuza (Z)
Ilex mitis		Cape Holly (E); Without (A); mutanzwa-khamelo (V); iPhuphuma (Z)
Indigofera frutescens		River Indigo (E), Rivierverfbos (A)
Millettia grandis		Umzimbeet (E,A); Umsimbithi (Z); umSimbithi (X)
Mundulea sericea		Cork Bush (E), Kurkbos (A), umaMentabeni (Z), Mukunda-ndou (V)
Nuxia floribunda		Forest Elder (E); Bosvlier (A); mula-notshi (V); Ithambo (Z); Mothlabare (S)
Full descriptions on the trees below can be found here: Recommended Indigenous Trees for Pools - Part 5
Pappea capensis		Jacket Plum (E); Doppruim (A); tshikavhavhe (V) umqhokwane (Z)
Pavetta lanceolata		Forest Brides Bush (E), Treurbruidsbos (A),umDleza (Z), Tshituku (V)
Pittosporum viridiflorum		Cheesewood (E); Kasuur (A); mulondwane (V) umfusamvu (Z)
Podocarpus elongatus		Breede River Yellowwood (E), Breêeriviergeelhout (A)
Ptaeroxylon obliquum		Sneezewood (E) Nieshout (A); munari (V); Bhaqa (Z); Tati (SS)
Rapanea melanophloes		Cape Beech (E), Boekenhout (A), isiCalabi (Z)
Rothmannia capensis		Scented-bells (E); Witklokke (A); Muratha-Mapfene (V); morutla (Tsw); isiqathankobe (Z); iBolo (X)
Senna petersiana		Monkey Pod (E),Apiespeul (A),umNembenembe (Z), Iujoyi (SW), Nembenembe (TSO), Munembenembe (V)
Vepris lanceolata		White Ironwood (E); Witysterhout (A); muhondwa (V); umozane (Z); Motane (S); uMozane (X)