Suggestions for tropical look around hot Texas pool?

I'm building a spa/pool and will have about 40 feet by 6 feet to landscape along one side, then about 5 x 20 on the other. I can bring in whatever soil I need, as all will be fill between the pool and retainer walls.
Can someone suggest plants that will look good in all 4 seasons?
I read about the "foxtail palm" that some people in Houston or Galveston grew.
I see some palms (HUGE ONES!) down the street from me, but don't want the ones that grow 50 feet high, and don't think I have room for them anyhoo.

I'd like to have bushes for the "bones" of the landscape, but then a few appropriate "palm-looking" things to look tropical.
Some things I could plant in pots and bring into the house in a freeze...I guess! :-) I'm just starting to think about this...I may be way off base.

They just shot the gunite, so I'm waiting for the retainer walls to be finished and the area cleaned before I post a pic of the beds to be designed. This pic is of the general area. You can (sorta) see the long side and the short side in the distance. The other 2 sides will be slate tiles (the large concrete steps in the foreground) and grass (to the left of the spa, which is in the left middle area).

Thanks in advance!

I am going to repeat myself.
Plumeria. You can plunge the pots and bring them in for the winter.

You're gonna have trouble finding palms that will live in Austin. Your winters get too cold for the vast majority of them (including the foxtail palm). I don't know what kind you have down your street, but it's likely a Phoenix Palm (pretty thick trunk, long "feather" shape fronds) or some different fan frond type. There seems to be more hardy types with the fan shaped fronds than others.

However, if you have a truck and trailer (or can borrow or rent one), and don't mind keeping them potted, Houston Garden Centers are having their annual 50% off sales right now (and will continue up to Christmas. Sometime before the holidays, it will jump to 75% off. They do this every year). They are all over Houston, and you can get very large sized palms for CHEAP!!

http://www.houstongardencenters.com/

butia capitata, brahea armata, sabal minor, needle palm, chamaerops humilis, trachycarpus, livistona chinensis (maybe), phoenix canariensis, phoenix dactylifera, phoenix theoprasti, serenoa repens, sabal palmetto, washingtonia robusta
fatsia japonica, crinum americanum, loquat, gardenia, oleander, cycas revoluta, shell ginger, bottle brush, agapanthus africanus, creeping fig, osmanthus fragrans, podocarpus

This message was edited Aug 10, 2007 10:22 PM

Connie...have you ever considered Papyrus? It's very tropical looking and apparently thrives in Zone 8A. I've got this one in a container...but they do really great in the ground also.

Here's the dwarf variety that is just "darling"

How about some Muhly Grass? I love these as they keep their neat shape all year round but put out a beautiful fuzzy glow in the fall/winter...they look incredible with a full moon or great landscape lighting. Thrives in multiple zones.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/88971/

Pic: Mine are just starting to put out a little fuzz...

There are a few banana (musa) varieties that can take some winter temps and still come back every year. They can be grown in large pots, which may save you the "taking them in and out" challenge, and yet look tropical.

in the summer, a lord baltimore hibiscus has huge tropical looking flowers. just about any hibiscus will get a tropical look for you

lord baltimore

lady baltimore

the whole plant

May I recomend Some cycads Like Dioon Udule and Cycas taitungensis.
Queen Palms will do well in Austin.

George in San Antonio

Ahhhhhh........just got back from daughter's college graduation in Lubbock, Tx (saw some gorgeous cross-vine there on fences...must do well...it's ubiquitous!!) and have so many things here to look up/study! Thanks to ALL!! :-)

I drew up a "plan" of sorts on the plane back. It involves the winter "bones" and then spaces for the tropicals I want to bury or place on stone platforms and then bring in for the winter. Just a few....I can't kill myself with moving things and my DH can't physically do it (he could pick up a house but he's unsteady on his feet!)

Again...THANKS!!!

Connie

Dutch, is the plumeria you posted the pic of "India"? I've been looking at them in the Plant Files! Beautiful, and the scent should be wonderful around the spa!

Connie - Did you want plants that are green in winter? Or is it OK if they go dormant? I have a pool, and can suggest some things, but need to know. FYI, sago palms get huge!! And you'll be wishing you could move it. Experience speaking. Also, I have slate tiles for decking and, because slate is soft, they and the mortar between them are wearing away, and we are in the process of making a very expensive change - to what, we don't know yet. But we have to pressure wash after the winter because of the algae that builds up and it does a number on the slate and mortar. Big cracks and holes in the mortar, chunks of slate that fly off.... If you do the slate, keep the tiles very close together. The mortar should be as thin as possible. It can't be repaired.

That is not India. This is India..... one of my favorites but a lanky grower. Great scent though!

Be aware, when you look at the plants suggested, that some 'may' shed a lot...Plummies lose their leaves, some palms can be downright shaggy at times...bamboo is neat, too, but the leaves are all over the place. Brugmansias? How cold does it get?

I just looked up "Record cold temperatures for Austin" and was surprised by the National Weather Service records:

Recently, the coldest has been around 20 degrees. In 1989 we had a temp of 4. But back in 1949, we had a -2 temp in Austin!

Now I have to go look up "Average...."

I do know that I have a huge collection of old moving blankets and towels I used this past winter to cover my fox-tail ferns. The one I didn't cover the last time has NEVER caught up to the others this year. About 1/2 the size. Interesting "experiment."

also... gingers look very tropical

Diehard...are those Curcumas ones that die down in the winter????

here they should. they are curcuma alismatifolia
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/706/

The gingers do look tropical. Still doing research as I have time. I only have this week before I do "back to school" stuff...

Fasia Japonica, Acanthus, lilies....

yall are lucky! this is my first day to a new school! wish me luck!

Aloha...I LOVE the Lily of the Nile (agapanthus) and they do well here all summer and winter. What lilies in particular would you recommend?
I use purples and oranges usually....

Diehrd: I have to help with 9th orientation on Thursday, then have "bonding" time with new teachers next Monday (I"m really not up to rope courses, etc. but we have to go! :0(
And Tue - Friday are "in service" / work days.

Then our students start on the 27th. Texas schools are working toward starting after Labor Day in the future...to save energy.

What do you teach?

Daughter is coming...gotta clean guest room....running bc I shopped all day yesterday and ran errands

Cw,

Just checking out the Tropical forum and noticed your pool request. Wow, that will be beautiful! We tossed around putting in a pool and decided it was just too impractical for our location, pine trees, close to bayou etc. So I am very envious!

Your responses have been great, for me as well, as I am zone 8b. I would love to know where to buy some of the Pumeria's that were shown, they are beautiful. I have never seen them for sale in South Mississippi.
I will also try the Papyrus and Muhly Grass next year if I can find it. My entire yard is tropical, so always looking for new things to try.

I did have good luck with my potted Chinese Fan Palm, in a pot on the front porch (shown) it over wintered fine, but the front of the house is very sunny most of the day. Thought they would look nice around a pool or spa.


Looking forward to seeing your project when its complete!
Gk

Gardner: Beautiful!! Do you bring the CFP in for the winter? What is the other one planted in the ground?

And I LOVE the slate! The color goes perfectly with your house colors! (What color is the slate? I know different people call it different things at times.) Because we're considering it, do you find it slippery at all when wet? Two people here on DG said that, and everyone else (about 20 people I know or have contacted) said NOT slippery. I guess there are 2 types?

ALL: I bought 2 "evergreen wisterias" today at a local nursery (Gardens on 35th). I was told they will do well in our winters and the blooms are just unbelievable. Cascades of magenta looking blooms. I"ll post a pic tomorrow. I guess the wisteria look is more "Southern" than "tropical" but guess I can mix and match!! :0

lol i dont teach, i'm a student.... a sophmore. my mom teaches 5th grade though. i go to a private school called Hilton Head Christian Academy. its been really hard adjusting and being the new kid for 2 yrs straight. since 8th grade i have gone to 3 different schools. i've been so nervous that i couldnt eat dinner or breakfast, or lunch or dinner again tonight, because i just lose my appetite. i gotta listen to the new fallout boy songs (my favorites) to get my mind off the stress and scarf down what i can til i'm nervous again. ill survive though, so long as i keep my trust in the Lord. But anyways........
back to plants...
i also think that you can grow caesalpinia there those are tropical. im jealous i want the wisteria, but its not common here i dont think.
also cordyline australis i think would be ok there

I think that some of the Crinums should grow there....and Ti, perhaps in a sheltered area...Hymenocallis (spelling???)...Agapanthus comes in such great colors and are so beautiful amassed in clumps...carefree, bugfree and forgiving!!!

Hey Connie,

I do not bring in any plants during the winter. If it looks like frost I sometimes move them under the porch roof and tarp them off.
We have a back porch as well that I can close the hurricane shutters, as I have a large deck with plants.

The other plant in the picture (not potted) is a Pygmy Date Palm (phoenix roebelenii) I have one on each side of the front garden along with two Washingtonia's. Both do very well in this climate. No issues during the winter.

The slate is called Peacock. You may want to talk to your tile people there re the effect of the chemicals in your spa and pool. We did have ours sealed and will reseal it every other year.
We do not find it slippery as a front walk, but around a pool may be a different matter.

Wisteria are beautiful, I had one before Katrina, need to keep them tamed as they can take over a space if you let them.

Looking forward to seeing your progress!

Cheers
Gk

diehrd: I'm surprised at your age! You will do extremely well in life, as seen by your intelligence and maturity! If you ever need to ask a question of a teacher (English) feel free to D-mail me! :) I wish I had your reaction to being nervous...I do the opposite!!! :-)

Gardner: I will definitely take pics of the area and post here after I finish...or during the process. And......did you post somewhere else that your slate is called 'Peacock' or did I read elsewhere about that color?
We will definitely both enhance AND seal the slate. There is a border of some other kind of stone that will be placed around the perimeter of the pool and then the slate will butt up to that.

lol i sure will! now i'm back to being a pig!

Hey Diehrd: Where did you learn so much about gardening? You really are incredible.

Kat

thanks! well i dont rightfully know. it just came. i used to help my dad in the yard... but now i know more than him and we call it MY yard. i had fun helping, and i guess... idk. i've done several yards. it gives me a happy feeling of completion. that is all i can say. oh yeah... i call it "landscaping" rather than "gardening".... "gardening" is for girls! all i can say is that the Lord has blessed me with this gift, so i use it to my best potential for His glory.

Diehrd.....right on!!

This is not tropical but one of the prettiest pools I have seen is where my aunt took an area like you are describing of 5 feet by 40 along both sides of the pool and planted Johnson and Perkins Simplicity pink roses (which are very fragrant)....................they bloomed 10 months of the year at least................she even put soaking hoses on them and then covered with white rocks of some kind...............she didn't even have to weed as there was that black weed cover under the white rocks and soaker hoses............

The rest of the landscaping was tropical with the evergreen white and carolina jasmine on the fences...........and hibiscus in pots along with a lot of other tropicals that she could put in the garage for the cold months, but the roses just keep blooming even now and she and her husband have passed away a long time ago..............

No one comes out there to maintain but the gardener once a week..............amazing simplicty roses which never have diseases like the hybrids....................it is just a thought as hers was a beautiful setting without much maintenance................

Connie..Lovely pool area..sounds like it will be developed ito a real tropical showpiece... Connie/GK if you are considering Plumeria... the all time best deal is available right now... Rich a Fl grower is folding after a few hits of weather and other things.. and is selling a considerable collection of plants for pennies on the dollar..Plumerias are a favorite here... as they love the hot roof temperatures I have... here's some info on Rich and his sale... he also has rooted cuttings and trees... Plumerias are the Hawaiian Lei flower... although native mostly to Central America
yes some of the seedling are marked with the alum tags and some are not marked but all are LUSH BIG and healthy and 7.50$ each and buy 5 and get a free one. richlin www.frangipani-farm.com
use map quest and come to 16675 Carlton Adams rd. Fort Pierce Fl 34950 we are the driveway with the red sign FRANGIPANI-FARM
We will be there today from about 9:30 till 2 or longer if needed call 772 332 1609
Good luck there... Gordon
pictured is a plumeria flower here.. with an angel trumpet...

Gordon,

Ohhh, I"m not ready to buy yet as there is a huge concrete hole in the ground, but what a sale!!!

For xeriscaping, the desert willow would be a good choice in a hot, dry corner http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/265/ . :)

-Joe

Joe....I like that choice but it's too late for xeriscaping here....already have $$ invested in things that must be watered on a regular basis....

And just for curiosity, does this "willow" put out roots like a regular one does? If so, would that not be bad for a pool area?