Fire-Resistant Plants
No plant is fire-proof, but fire-resistant plants will not contribute to furthering fire intensity, and are therefore a good choice for landscaping.
There are many species of fire-resistant plants in existence (most deciduous trees and shrubs are fire-resistant), and they share the following characteristics:
Pictured Below: Roses-- a fire resistant plant species
- Leaves are moist and supple
- Plants have little dead wood and tend not to accumulate dry, dead material within the plant
- Sap is water-like and does not have a strong odor
- Sap or resin materials are low
Some plants are not only not fire-resisitant-- they may in fact
fuel flame intensity (juniper, sagebrush, bitterbrush, manzanita, &
ceanothus, for example). These species should not be planted around
the home. Characteristics of highly flammable plants include:
Pictured Below: Gorse-- not fire resistant (flammable)
- Plants that contain fine, dry, or dead material within the plant--such as twigs, needles and leaves
- Leaves, twigs and stems contain volatile waxes, terpenes, or oils
- Leaves are aromatic (exhibiting a strong odor when crushed)
- Sap is gummy, resinous, and has a strong odor
- May have loose or papery bark
(Info gathered from: Fire-Resistant Plants For Home Landscapes- A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication)