Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
photograph by : Mary Sisco / Shutterstock
clime change , including hotter temperature and shifting precipitation pattern , is creating the perfect conditions for increase wildfire risk across much of the United States , even in orbit that were once considered fairly good . The absolute frequency , extent , and severity of wildfires is also likely to compound in the geezerhood to come , as prolonged drouth and escalating temperatures continue to parch the landscape .
If you live in a high - fire - risk zona ( or an arena where mood change has put you at greater risk ) select plants for your garden that offer good fire resistor can help reduce the terror to your dwelling and place . This strategy , call fire - resistant or fire - impertinent gardening , is designed to set wildfire activity by creating a defensible space around your home where vegetation and other factors are managed to keep flak at a safe length .
On this pageboy : What Makes a Plant Fire - Resistant?|15 Fire - Resistant Plants|Landscaping Tips
On this Thomas Nelson Page :
WHAT MAKES A PLANT FIRE RESISTANT?
Although no industrial plant is completely fireproof ( all botany can ignite under the right conditions ) , some plants have qualities that make them less vulnerable to flaming than others , include :
For the dependable fire impedance , opt for deciduous tree over fine - needle evergreens that have a high resin cognitive content , such as pines and junipers . You also ca n’t go wrong with succulent that have thick , fleshy leaves , like ice plants and sedum . works aboriginal to your field can also be respectable choices for a fire - resistant garden because they involve less water supply to stay hydrated and have develop their own strategies to protect themselves from wildfire .
To reduce the aggregation of easily ignitable vegetation , deflect plant like tall ornamental pasturage and other declamatory perennials that die back in wintertime and leave combustible dry leaves and stems above the earth . ( If you do found them , always dilute them back to just above the ground in the fall . ) Also avoid deciduous trees and shrubs with peeling , papery bark , like river birch tree .
15 FIRE-RESISTANT PLANTS
pic : Bowonpat Sakaew / Shutterstock
AGAVE (Agavespp.)
Zones:5 - 11Plant eccentric : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread:1 to 10 foot improbable , up to 12 feet wide , depend on the variety
Thanks to their duncish , broad , water - meet parting , these showy succulents flourish in spicy , ironical condition , making them idealistic for desert climates and areas with mild winters . Larger form are excellent for use as firebreaks in the landscape . larn agave plants .
Perfecto Mundo Epic Pink ® . Photo : Proven victor
AZALEA (Rhododendronspp.)
Zones:6 - 9 , with some deciduous varieties hardy down to Zone 3Plant type : Evergreen or deciduous shrubExposure : Full to fond sunHeight / Spread:1 to 20 foot tall , 2 to 20 invertebrate foot wide , depending on variety
Grown primarily for their attractive bound bloom , azaleas are also useful as hedging or screening plants and in woodland borders . Prune after blooming to shape plants and get rid of any dead or diseased branches . Learn azalea bush .
Pictured : Perfecto Mundo Epic Pink ® reblooming azaleafrom Proven Winners .
' Burgundy Glow ' bugleweed . exposure : Walters Gardens , Inc.
BUGLEWEED (Ajuga reptans)
Zones:3 - 10Plant type : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Part shade to full sunHeight / Spread:6 to 8 column inch tall , pass around to 2 foot or more
This resilient earth blanket spreads chop-chop to form a dense lustrelessness that will help smother green goddess and discourage embers from igniting . Avoid growing in a spot where its aggressive nature could run afoul on other planting . Learn bugleweed .
Summersong ™ Firefinch ™ coneflower . photograph : Proven Winners
CONEFLOWER (Echinaceaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Plant case : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread:2 to 5 invertebrate foot tall
These easy - guardianship , drought - tolerant fuckup are prized for their colourful daisy - like flower in summer . Although plants ask minuscule maintenance , you should cut them back to the ground in the pin to minimize fire peril . Learn coneflower .
fancy : Summersong ™ Firefinch ™ coneflowerfrom Proven Winners .
Uptick ™ Yellow & Red tickseed . Photo : Proven succeeder
COREOPSIS (Coreopsisspp.)
Zones:4 - 9Plant type : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread:6 inch to 8 groundwork marvellous , depending on the variety
This fuss - free aboriginal prairie industrial plant flourish through sweltering heating plant and blaze away sunlight and will permit just about any soil character as long as it ’s well drain . bring on a profusion of bright yellow , Au , or ruby-red flowers that bloom non - stop from early summertime to devolve . Learn tickweed .
picture : Uptick ™ Yellow & Red tickseedfrom Proven Winners .
' Coral Beauty ' cotoneaster . pic : Maria D / Shutterstock .
COTONEASTER (Cotoneaster dammeri)
Zones:5 - 8Plant character : Broadleaf evergreen shrubExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread : Up to 1 foot improbable with a spread of 4 to 6 feet
A low - growing , propagate shrub with moody , shiny light-green foliage that change to Bourgogne in fall . Produces sight of creamy ashen flowers in spring follow by crimson cranberry - like Chuck Berry that persist into winter .
‘ Purple Sprite ’ spring phlox . Photo : Proven winner
CREEPING PHLOX (Phlox sublata)
Zones:3 - 9Plant type : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread:4 to 6 inch tall , spreads 18 to 24 inches
Unlike tallergarden phlox , this reason - hugging diverseness ( also called moss phlox ) is smothered in spring by sunny flowers in shades of lavender , pink , rose , or purple . Once the blooms disappearance , they leave behind an attractive mat of acerate leaf - alike , linear leaves .
Pictured:‘Purple Sprite ’ spring phloxfrom Proven Winners .
Fire Spinner ® ice plant . Photo : Proven Winners
HARDY ICE PLANT (Delospermaspp.)
Zones:6 - 10Plant character : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread:3 to 6 inch tall , spreads up to 2 feet
Despite the name , ice plant life are really fire - resilient succulent that thrive in warm , sunny , dry emplacement . Produces brightly colourize , daisy - like flowers from early summertime until capitulation . In milder mood , the glossy , cylindric leave form an attractive evergreen carpeting . Learn stout sparkler plant .
see : Fire Spinner ® ice plantfrom Proven Winners .
Sweet Romance ® lavender . Photo : Proven achiever
LAVENDER (Lavandulaspp.)
Zones : Varies depend on the speciesPlant type : Woody perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread:2 to 3 feet
A perennial herb admired for its attractive purple blooms , sweet fragrance , and compact shrub - like contour . Although it contains scented oils , lavender is dim to wake as long as you keep it water during dry spell . larn lavender .
show : Sweet Romance ® lavenderfrom Proven Winners .
‘ Midnight Masquerade ’ genus Penstemon . pic : Proven Winners
PENSTEMON (Penstemonspp.)
zone : deviate depending on the speciesPlant case : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread : Varies widely , from under 10 inch tall up to 6 ft .
It ’s hard to vex penstemon ( also called beardtongue ) if you ’re looking for a resilient native wild flower that propose good fire - resistance , ease of care , and wildlife note value . A congenator of foxglove and snapdragon , producing like spikes of tubular flower in a broad compass of colors . acquire penstemon .
Pictured:‘Midnight Masquerade ’ penstemonfrom Proven Winners .
Arctic Fire ® Red dogwood in springiness . picture : Proven achiever
RED TWIG DOGWOOD (Cornus sericea)
Zones:3 - 7Plant type : Deciduous shrubExposure : Full sun to part shadeHeight / Spread:6 to 9 foot tall , 7 to 10 metrical foot broad
A small cosmetic shrub grow primarily for its bright ruby stems , which add interest to the winter garden . Grows well in a wide range of soils , including boggy or boggy locations . Learn red twig dogwoods .
envision : Arctic Fire ® Red dogwoodfrom Proven Winners .
Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' dry land covert sedum . photograph : Proven Winners
SEDUM (Sedumspp.)
Zones:3 - 10Plant case : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full Dominicus to part shadeHeight / Spread:2 to 12 in marvellous , spread up to 2 foot , depending on variety
Also called stonecrop , these drought - tolerant succulents are very low maintenance and involve little pruning . To keep plant life goodish and fervidness live , remove any deadened or damaged branch and foliation in the fall . Learn sedum .
see : Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' soil covering sedumfrom Proven Winners .
' balefire ' shock spurge . Photo : Proven Winners
SPURGE (Euphorbiaspp.)
Zones:4 - 10Plant type : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sun to part shadeHeight / Spread : Varies depending on the species
Euphorbias are valued for their richly colored leaves , unusual bloom , and wide range of pattern , rate from creep ground covers to bush and belittled Tree . Their drought and heat tolerance make them particularly well - become for dry , fire - prone climates . Learn genus Euphorbia .
Pictured:‘Bonfire ' cushion spurgefrom Proven Winners .
' Firefly Sunshine ' Achillea millefolium . Photo : Proven winner
YARROW (Achilleaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Plant eccentric : Herbaceous perennialExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread:8 inches tall to 5 foot grandiloquent , calculate on variety
This long - blooming perennial thrives on neglect and can handle drought , infertile soils , and sweltering warmth with ease . The broad , flat - transcend flower clustering come in a wide raiment of vivacious colour . study yarrow plant .
Pictured:‘Firefly Sunshine ' yarrowfrom Proven Winners .
Color Guard yucca . Photo : Proven Winners
YUCCA (Yuccaspp.)
Zones:4 - 11Plant case : Broadleaf evergreen perennial or shrubExposure : Full sunHeight / Spread : Varies by case , ranging from 2 to 30 feet tall and up to 25 feet wide
Easily recognize by their stiff , sword - shaped leave and tall spindle of clean flowers in summer , these broken native plants are extremely drouth tolerant and flourish in dry , desert - comparable climate . Many species are also cold unfearing and can withstand freeze temperature . Learn yucca .
Pictured : Color Guard yuccafrom Proven Winners .
FIRE-RESISTANT LANDSCAPING TIPS
