Desert willow, Spanish oak, montezuma cypress? These are all deciduous so you will have leaf drop. I have never had a swimming pool so I do not know about the practical concerns that one has to worry about like roots getting into pipes, etcetera.

If you don't want a lot of liter in your pool, you drastically limit your choices. You started out planning very well but seem to be fixated on the "Texas theme" and lost site of all other equally issues. Google 'the lady bird johnson arb' and click of the 'mr smarty plants' link to ask your question. They usually respond with-in 24 hours.

What about yaupon holly?

If you can plant them far enough from the pool that the leaves are not a problem, I like Vitex, bottle brush (they are evergreens) and Pride of Barbados (check that it is not too cold for them). There is something with cool purple flowers; it is called a Mountain Lilac or something like that. Crepe myrtles are really messy and everyone has one. How about a redbud, if it will grow in your area? It will probably need a lot more water than the other trees though. Bottle brush trees are some of my all time favorites though because they look nice, are evergreen and hummers and butterflies love them. They do drop red tassels twice a year though.

For smaller areas, and to attract hummers and butterflies, try Cigar plant (cuphia), salvias like Texas salvia and Henry Dulburg (sp?), cone flowers and lantana.

Bougainvillea seems to do well in a lot of places if you need a nice vine and donÂt mind thorns. You may need to grow it in a pot so you can protect it from freezes. A passion vine would also fit in with your Texas theme.

A nice peach or pear will flower about as long as most ornamental trees plus you get great fruit. You can prune it be more attractive and avoid the "orchard" look if you wish. Buy your fruit tree from a good nursery that understands chill hours and rootstocks rather than a box store.

bottle brush is lovley, gets big, and attracts your garden
friends.

pride of barbados, great suggestion! i love that one too

as far as the texas theme, i'm racking my brain, but can
only visualize cacti, and mesquite trees (sorry, its early,
and have had only one cup of coffee)

tesa

It's admirable to be shooting for native Texan plants. Xeriscaping is smart - it saves you from watering all the frickin' time! Speaking of which, what's your soil like?

That said, I would go for evergreens whenever possible. Also stay away from shrubs that need to be pruned into that box shape, because that leads to leaf litter too. Check out any plant you're considering in Neil Sperry's big book, usually available in your local library; he's my gardening-bible!

Texas A&M has lists of great plants for Texas. I put a link to their tree list below. Their other lists and general horticulture information is well worth the read.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas A & M Tree List

Wax myrtle might be a good option for around a pool. Check out the Texas Smartscapes website for ideas on perennials. I can say that rock rose will probably work around a pool as a native perennial. Most of the leaves stay on the plant over the winter and when you cut it back in February or March, you control where they go - into a compost bag. They will also flower in full to part sun and being native, don't require a whole lot of care. Shrubs that might work for you are Indian hawthorne, dwarf yaupon holly or carissa holly. Anyway, take a look at the website to find plants that will work for your site.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Smartscape

For a little privacy, you could use some of the hardy oleanders(pink or red). for fast growing trees try desert willow and or Retama. You could add a few Agave, some Salvia greggii and maybe a Sabal mexicana(a palm) for a accent plant.

I agree with the wax myrtle choice. We have them by our pool and they provide great privacy, grow fast and stay green and beautiful all year. We were advised not to put crepe myrtles near the pool and I'm so glad we did not.

Also another good thing about the wax myrtles is you can leave them like a bush or prune them up like a tree. Mine are like a tree and are really tall. Good luck

Cassie

I really like the cypress idea. How about a variation. I'm not sure exactly of the cultivar names (I think one has sky in the name and the other has pencil), but they're beautifully columnar junipers and every where I've seen them they've been stunning when they get tall. They're that blue-grey-green color. And they'd definitely be hardy and low maintenance once established and everblue-grey-green.

I looked at your pictures and the concern I'd have with trees there would be the roots. After ten or so years would the roots damage the pool?

The pride of Barbados is a wonderful choice for a pool area, it dies back in winter and is slow to come back, very low water need.
Rose of Sharon is very easy, there area single and double flowers, they are a hibiscus but not like your normal hibiscus, very low water need.
Cannas area easy low water, only need to cut them back in late fall after a hard frost.

There is a tropical greenery nursery 7421 Boulevard 26
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
(817) 485-2100

I got a hardy palm back in the fall for more than half off. They have good plants to choose from.

Salvias are great plants and so many to choose from, I would recommend the greggii type, these are evergreen and don't reseed like the other type of salvias. I like Hot Lips salvia in the cool weather the flowers are white, as it gets hotter they turn red and white and by mid-summer red. They can be hard to find but if you'd like one I have one from reseed and will need to be moved soon. I live in Trophy Club.