Plant Materials

Succulents, like these hens and chicks, are good choices for firewise landscapes.

Every landscape has plants and every plant, if dry enough, will burn. Fire resistive plants are those that have characteristics that make them less-flammable than others. That being said, the selection of fire-resistive plant materials is usually far less important than how those plants and features are configured and how well the landscape is maintained.

With a few exceptions, plant condition is more important than plant species. Depending on factors such as growth form, access to water and nutrients, the same plant may be fire-resistive in one environment and combustible in another. Summer irrigation can make the difference between an extremely flammable plant and one that will not burn readily.

Fire-prone plants share characteristics. They:

Junipers are extremely fire-prone.

• are water-stressed:
• accumulate fine, twiggy, dry, or dead material.
• have leaves and wood containing volatile waxes, fats, terpenes, or oils.
• are typically aromatic (crushed leaves have strong odors).
• have gummy, resinous sap with a strong odor.
• are usually blade-leaf or needle-leaf evergreens.
• have stiff, leathery, small, or fine lacy leaves.
• may have pubescent (hair covered) leaves.
• may have loose or papery bark.
• are plants that flame (not smolder) when preheated and ignited with a match.

Fire-resistive plants also share characteristics. They:

• have high moisture content in their leaves.
• are drought-tolerant.
• have little or no seasonal accumulation of dead vegetation.
• have a low volume of total vegetation.
• have non-resinous woody material.
• have an open, loose branching habit.
• are slow growing.