Hmm. Sounds like Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' - Waxleaf Privet. They have small white flowers that do attract bees, probably not a good choice near a pool. And they producce blue black berries that can stain, and all parts of the plant, including the berries, are poisonous, so if you've got little grand kiddos, probably not a good choice. I wouldn't pick it for near a pool and on a deck due to the berries. Better choices: hinoki cypress, boxwood, pacific blue juniper, Cryptomeria japonica 'globosa nana', blue star juniper, Ternstroemia, Camellia, Viburnum davidii (does have flowers and berries, but not as messy as wax leaf privet).

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: San Marcos Growers: Wax Leaf Privet

Thank you, Patty. I'll share your suggestions. Fortunately, she has the Sunset Western Garden Book so she can research and read about each of them herself. I did tell her about the bees and berries, and she said "oh no, I don't want those around the pool!".

I would appreciate any and all suggestions...

I should add that the hedge should be no wider than about 2 feet. There needs to be adequate space for walking between the edge of the border and the pool.

Jenn, was checking my "Western Home Landscaping" book (a "Creative Homegrower" book I picked up at Lowe's) and looking for screening plants for myself, and saw that they had a nice section on plantings around pools. A couple of suggestions from the book, and I have these all my my yard and vouch for them: Photinia fraserii. A very maligned but LOVELY screening choice. Also you might consider Bronze Loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa). I have these in front of my black anodized fencing, and they are just so lovely and effortless. They do have a bit of a bloom, but it is very insignificant and hardly shed at all. Also mentioned in this book are Nandina 'Royal Princess' and Indian Hawthorne 'Majestic Beauty' (might have too many blooms/bees). I think Photinia is a great option, and very well-behaved. I know it's used a lot, but when used in your own landscaping in specific spots it is very pretty, with it's bronze-red new foliage really eye-catching. Plus, it is very easy to maintain. I have never, ever had any issues with Black Spot with mine, and I have had a huge issue with Black Spot and my roses, which are all around my Photinia.

Patty S.

Two feet? Jenn, I don't think there is any plant that can really be kept that skinny. Maybe a dwarf Italian cypress?

The only plant I would suggest for that narrow spot is Nandina. They do get berries and flowers, but not many and they don't stain. They don't attract many bees. They do not need to be pruned at all.

Everything else will require extensive and expensive pruning and will be sticks instead of green much of the time. No fun.

Renee

"Green Tower" boxwood is very narrow, also a nice looking plant. I'm very pleased with mine. It's a Monrovia introduction. Grows maybe 2' wide and as tall as you let it get.

Here's a side view showing how narrow it is. Plants are still young so a little sparse, but a good screen already. They are about 6' tall. Easy to keep them lower.
{{gwi:503515}}

Photinia fraseri and loquat at two feet?!?!? Good one!!

I trust that the "horticulturist" did not know that the privet had a 2ft. restriction. Or a bee restriction. But they should know what is acceptable around pools. The older Sunset books used to have a couple pages for plants around pools.

Nonetheless, there is neither enough information nor a clear question for us to help.

Dan

Patty and Hoov - thank you so much for your suggestions.

Hoov, that boxwood might be just the ticket. Since it is so narrow, she'll need a lot more plants to create the hedge look, but I'm betting she'd be willing to pay more than have bees and berries around the pool.

I wish I could help her more but I have not been able to be part of the discussions and my mom isn't really asking me any questions --- she just likes the plans and was telling me about them, and I started wondering about some of the details. I encouraged her to get 2 more estimates but is happy with this woman.

Hoov - does that 'Green Tower' have messy blooms or attract bees? Monrovia says it has yellow flowers. As long as they don't drop and leave a mess on the deck, and/or attract bees, it sounds like the perfect choice for a hedge against the wall along the pool decking.

It sounds like a vine could be a better solution for such a tight space, but most flowering vines will drop flowers or attract bees also. A lot of people find the smell of boxwood foliage reminds them of cat pee. It would also help to know what sun exposure that fence gets. Does the pool have a pool cover? I would suggest that something like Strelitzia juncea or S. reginae would work, Cyperis textilis or Cyperus alternifolius, Aristea major, Asparagus densiflorum 'Meyers'. My favorite hedge for staying narrow and with dense tight foliage and attractive flowers, unfortunately also does attract bees, but is this side of the pool where your mom has furniture to sit/lay out on? If not, I think Grewia occidentalis could work quite well there. I've used Grewia next to a pool with just 5 feet distance to lounge chairs with no problems with bees.

Thank you, bahia, I'll share your suggestions. She doesn't have email at the present time but I gave her my email address to share with the designer. She said work could start in a week or two so there isn't a lot of time to haggle over plants, but I want to encourage her to take enough time to make the right selections. Unlike me, she isn't willing to do endless research. She's had work done inside the home that turned out beautifully without getting 2nd opinions or going from store to store... she sees something she likes, picks it, it's done, and she's happy. But plants are different... they are living and need regular, proper tending to stay happy. I want to guide her without meddling, since she didn't ask for my opinion. :)

Hi Mufflchka,

I am in the same position with wanting the same hedge you're looking for and in So. Cal. What did you decide to go with, may I ask? Thanks!

I am most likely going w/ podocarpus gracilior hedge - from what I've learned, it doesn't have an invasive root system, not messy, doesn't bloom , grows pretty fast. I hope I am getting the correct info.

P. gracilior, now renamed Afrocarpus gracilior but often still sold under the former name, is a tree. According to Sunset, their growth form differs depending upon the method of propagation (seed or asexual propagation). The sex of the plant can also affect how messy it can become; mature female plants can produce fleshy fruit. I would not say they don't shed leaves but, on whole, they are generally regarded as being less messy with leaf drop than most other choices.

I am getting mixed feedback from several nurseries ive visited. Some say that the roots of Podocarpus Gracilior will not create a problem for the pool & retaining wall IF the hedge is trimmed every other year or so to keep it under control. Some say that EVENTUALLY the roots may create a problem for the adjoining pool & retaining wall since it IS a tree. Anybody out there has had an experience w Podocarpus Gracilior as a HEDGE?

I am also considering a Photenia hedge. Any feedback on the cleanliness, bees, roots? Need a tall (at least 10 ft) privacy hedge to plant in a 5 ft wide planter located between pool & retaining wall...can't wait for it to grow tall since the retaining wall is only 4ft tall & is facing the street providing full visibility of our backyard :(

TIA for taking the time to share ur experience.

Yes, A. gracilior can eventually cause root problems in narrow beds. How soon depends upon many factors, including soil type. I have seen some that were fine after many (15ish) years. Other mature hedges were difficult to remove when it became necessary at under ten years. At least one person thought they were great, low-litter plants--then realized that maintaining the tree as a hedge produced a lot of mess!

I wouldn't go for a photinia hedge. They tend to get diseased (fire blight & serious leaf spot problems--severe enough to cause leaf drop). In some areas they become chlorotic. Although P. fraseri is not as often affected, mildew can show up in locations with inadequate air circulation. Healthy individuals are quite attractive; but the diseased or chlorotic specimens can really look awful.

HERE is a link to another thread about A. gracilior and pools you may find informative.

I thought you wanted something "pretty", SK! :) Sorry, but I so rarely see Italian cypress being used in a landscape in a proper manner. And they are downright ugly when they are rowed and topped.

Is a fence a viable option? If you want a 12' plant, they are going to require a sufficient root system to support the plant. And all plants are going to have a degree of mess. Height adds to the amount and spread of the litter, too. Sometimes an attractive fence, with an a beautifying landscape, is a better choice. Laws permitting, of course.

I'm not crazy about Italian Cypress either, but I'm running out of options for this challenging area (between retaining wall & pool & only 5' deep). We have a "fence" (masonry wall), but by code it can oly be 6' tall off the SIDEWALK - & our house is graded higher, so we have only a 4' wall & on complete display of the entire street :( I've looked at so many options, I'm getting discouraged... I even considered putting up a trellis extension & planting a pretty vine like Red Trumpet vine, but started reading nightmare experiences of people who have it - invasive roots & sending off roots all over & ruining their lawns & trees...

Hi Sk, I am in similar situation but in Dfw did you ever found a solution?

Shaily, given the volume of your posts regarding plants. You may wish to invest in the well respected book disclosing plants. Experts use it with plants they are unfamiliar. They also have a website- Sunset Garden.