• Situate prickly desert cactus away from the pathway of swimmers playing in the pool area.Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Look for landscaping plants that add color and interest to the pool site without producing a significant amount of litter, which causes problems for the pool's filtration system. Desert plants tend to require minimal water and maintenance, allowing you to spend more time in your swimming pool and less time keeping the yard looking good.
  
  

Yellow Bird of Paradise

• The yellow bird of paradise, or Caesalpinia gilliesii, blooms from spring to fall, bearing exotic yellow and red flowers. A native of Argentina, the yellow bird of paradise is a semievergreen with fine-textured foliage, forming an open and upright shape. It grows to about 6 feet high and 5 feet wide at maturity and does well with full sun exposure. The shrub attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and other birds.
  
  

Little-Leaf Cordial

• A native of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, the little-leaf cordial, or Cordia parvifolia, is a semievergreen with gray-green, medium-textured foliage that forms a round and open shape. From spring to fall its white flower clusters bloom. Landscapers often use the bush as an informal hedge or for screening, as it grows to some 6 feet wide by 6 feet high at maturity. The plant does well in the full or reflected sun.
  
  

Hop Bush

• The hop bush, or Dodonaea viscose, provides year-round green to the poolside. An evergreen, its bright green, medium-textured foliage forms a dense and upright shape, reaching some 10 feet high and 8 feet wide at maturity. It attracts birds with its paperlike fruits. The plant does well in the full or partial sun.
  
  

Desert Lavender

• Native to southwest deserts, the desert lavender, or Hyptis emoryi, has fragrant evergreen foliage and small lavender flowers, which bloom in the spring. It has grayish-green, medium-textured foliage and forms an open and upright shape, reaching some 6 feet high and 4 feet wide at maturity. The plant attracts hummingbirds and other birds.
  
  

Red Justicia

• For bright red flowers poolside, the red justicia, or Justicia candicans, has brilliant red blossoms which bloom during the spring and fall. A native of Arizona and Mexico, it is an evergreen with medium green, medium-textured foliage that forms a sprawling shape. It does best in the partial sun, and grows to about 3 feet high and 3 feet wide, making it a good choice for planting under a window. Its flowers attract hummingbirds and other birds.
  
  

Baja Fairy Duster

• The unconventional looking red tassel-like flowers of the Baja fairy duster, or Calliandra californica, bloom from spring to fall, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. It is a semievergreen with dark green, fine-textured foliage that forms an upright and open shape. It does well in the full sun and grows to about 5 feet high and 5 feet wide at maturity. Landscapers often use it as an informal hedge.