Fire Retardant Water-Wise Plants

HELP SAVE YOUR HOME FROM BRUSH FIRES

The plant list, in the table directly below, was created from the Eagle Scout Project of Timothy Hof of Boy Scout Troop 2 in Santa Clarita. It contains plants that we have tried in our Conservatory Garden, and should grow well in the Santa Clarita Valley. These plants are "fire retardant." NONE ARE FIREPROOF!

 

 




Botanical Name
Common Name
Type
Height
Width
Flowers
Fruit
Leaf Description
Culture
Interest
AGAVE americana 'Glauca' Century Plant Succulent Foliage to
4 foot, When flowering from
15 - 45 feet
10 foot Flowers approximately every 10 years, yellowish green Pod 8 -14 inches wide, 3 - 6 foot long ending in a very sharp tip. Blue green Variety 'Varigata' has yellowish boarders. After flowering, the center plant dies leaving pups to replace it. May shrivel in drought, but perks right back with a little water. Great boundary plant for corner houses or lot property lines.
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS densiflorus 'Howard McMinn' Manzanita Evergreen Shrub 5 - 6 foot 5 - 6 foot Small, whitish - green, very showy in spring. 3/4 inch round berries, edible Dark green, stiff Hates water when established Red bark, Native to Sonoma County
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS 'Pacific Mist' Manzanita Evergreen Shrub 2-1/2 foot Spreading Small, whitish 3/4" round berries, edible Dark green, stiff Hates water when established. Needs pinching to stimulate branching Red bark, good ground cover.
AZINOGANTHUS flavidus Kangaroo Paw Evergreen, perennial 5 foot Spreads by clumping Red to yellow, fuzzy 1" to 1-1/2" on long clusters. Resembles a kangaroo's paw Pods Grass-like to
3 foot
Does not like wet feet. Keep crown area dry and clean. Native to Western Australia. Attractive to Hummingbirds
BRAHEA (EYRTHEA) armata Mexican Blue Palm Palm 40 foot 6 - 8 foot canopy Cream Silvery blue to white Tolerates aridity when established Native to Mexico
CISTUS purpureus Rock Rose Evergreen Shrub 4 foot 4 foot Magenta to purple, red spot in middle Insignificant 1 - 2 inch, dark green on top, gray fuzzy on bottom Hates water when established Great in mass plantings or as accents to rock gardens.
DIANTHUS plumaris Sweet William Perennial to 12 inches 18 inches Various colors year round Insignificant 1-1/2 inch, Lanceolate Pinch off spent blooms Borders and rock gardens
DIETES bicolor Fortnight Lily Evergreen perennial Foliage to
2 feet, flowers to 4 feet
Spreads by clumping Light yellow with maroon spots, Resembles Iris Insignificant Grass-like to
2 feet
Cut back by 1/3rd to keep foliage fresh Flowers last
2 weeks
(a "Fortnight")
FESTUCA ovina 'Glauca' Blue Fescue Ornamental grass 8 - 12 inches Spreads by clumping Cream colored to 16 inches Insignificant Blue green Keep root crown dry. Cut to base annually Other varieties available with variance in color. Try on hillsides, borders and rock gardens
HELITOCHRICON sempervirens Blue Oat Grass Ornamental grass 18 inches Clumping Bluish gray Insignificant Bluish gray Prune to base annually Accents and boarders
HETEROMELES arbutifolia Toyon, Christmas Berry Evergreen shrub or small tree to 20 feet 10 - 15 feet White on year old wood Bright red berries on year old wood Thick, leathery, glossy, serrate. California's most beautiful native shrub. Birds relish the fruit.
IRIS germanica Bearded Iris Rhizome 18 - 24 inches Clumping Various colors are large and showy in spring and fall Insignificant Fleshy lanceolate to
14 inches
Keep crowns clean and dry. Remove old foliage annually. Divide clumps every 3 years
IRIS douglasianna Iris Rhizome 12 - 24 inches Clumping Beardless, purple to white Insignificant Lanceolate, grass-like to
24 inches
Divide clumps every 3 years Native to California
IVA havesiana Poverty Weed Perennial 3 - 5 feet 4 feet Inconspicuous Insignificant Olive green Likes it dry Native to Southern California. Use as a tall ground cover or accent on a slope.
LAVANDULA stoechus Spanish Lavender Evergreen shrub 3 feet 3 feet Dark purple None Narrow gray Prune immediately after blooming to keep tight. Does not like much water when established. Native to the Mediterranean
LAVANDULA dantata French Lavender Evergreen shrub 3 feet 3 feet Lavendar purple None Narrow gray green, square toothed edges Prune immediately after blooming to keep tight. Does not like much water when established. Native to the Mediterranean
LIMONIUM perezii Statice or Sea Lavender Perennial 3 feet 3 feet Purple Can self-sow Large up to 12 inches long and 6 inches wide. Thick and fleshy green. Flowers keep color after spent. Does not like much water when established. Naturalized in Southern California.
MIMULUS longifolia Monkey Flower Perennial 1 - 2 feet 3 feet Tubular, orange or red Can self-sow Narrow, sticky, glossy, dark green Naturalize after 2 to 3 years Native to Southern California
MUHLENBERGIA capillaria Hairy Qwn Mullein, Deer Grass Ornamental Grass 1 - 2 feet 18 inches Red flowers on 3 foot tall stems give the appearance of smoke. Can self-sow Light to medium green Handles just about any soil Outstanding display when planted in clusters.
NANDINA domestica 'Harbor Dwarf' Heavenly Bamboo Evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub 18 - 24 inches Spreads by rhizome White Red berries Narrow, finely textured. Turns red to orange in winter. May need chelated iron in alkaline soils. (We have not needed to add iron in our garden.) Actually not a bamboo, but in the Barberry family.
OLEA europa European Olive Evergreen Tree to 30 feet to 30 feet White Olives. Inedible unless cured. (see "Culture" column at right) Narrow, gray-green, willow-like. Takes about any soil. Thin in winter to show off branch structure. Spray with fruit inhibitors when flowers appear in spring if you do not want the fruit. Fruitless varieties revert to fruiting after a couple of seasons.
PARKENSONIA aculeata Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn Deciduous or semi-deciduous tree 15 - 30 feet 15 - 30 feet Yellow in spring (attractive in cut arrangements) Pods Narrow, finely textured, almost fern-like. Turns red to orange in winter Tolerate alkaline soils Green bark and sharp thorns.
PITTOSPORUM tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf' Tobira Evergreen shrub 18 - 24 inches 18 - 24 inches White Green to brown berries Clean looking, dense Easy Good for low borders and arround pools
PLATANUS wrightii Arizona Sycamore Deciduous tree to 80 feet 60 feet Catkins Seeds in balls Wide, Maple-like May need regular water in summer Native to Southern and Eastern Arizona stream beds
QUERCUS lobata Valley Oak Deciduous tree 50 - 70 feet 50 - 70 feet Catkins Acorns Deeply lobed, classic oak-shaped Tolerates alkalinity, subject to root rot. Keep irrigation away from trunk and out of drip line in mature specimens. Subject to mistletoe. Native to the foothills in Southern California. Oak balls are galls created by insect activity and are harmless.
SALVIA greggii Autumn Sage Evergreen shrub 3 - 4 feet 4 feet Red or white Self-sows Narrow, finely textured, medium green Needs little water once established Attracts hummingbirds
SALVIA leucophylla Purple Sage Evergreen shrub 3 - 4 feet Spreads much wider Lavender Red berries White, wooly Needs little water once established. Keep branches off ground if you do not want it to spread Attracts hummingbirds
SESLERIA autumnalis Ornamental grass 18 - 24 inches Spreads by rhizome Creamy green Cream Dark green Prune to base annualy Good for low borders or mass plantings on slopes
TRICOSTEMA lanatum Wooly Blue Curls Evergreen shrub 3 - 5 feet 3 - 5 feet Purple Self sows Green on top, gray and wooly on the bottom Needs no irrigation once established Native to Southern California
TULBAGHIA violacea Society Garlic Perennial 18 - 24 inches Spreads by rhizome Lavender Remove Narrow, fine, grass-like. Divide clumps every three years While virtually indestructible, the plant emits an odor when crushed. (Repels many small animals, sometimes even gophers.) Keep outside and away from bedroom windows.
VERBENA tapien Verbena Perennial 18 - 24 inches Spreads by rooting Purple Remove Narrow, finely textured Cut back or mow annually Great ground cover
YUCCA WHIPPLEI Our Lord's Candle Evergreen perennial 12 - 21 inches 12 - 21 inches, Spreads by pups Flowering stems to
14 inches
Bell-shaped pods Thin, pointed at tip, stemless, gray-green Thin periodically to keep from spreading beyond desired area Native to Southern California
ZAUSCHNERIA californica California Fuchia Perennial or subshrub 1' - 2' Orange to fuchia remove Narrow, gray Naturalizes, no irrigation when established Native to Southern California

 

The table below lists plants that are listed as fire hazards as found in three or more fire performance references.

Avoid the following plants (Fire Hazard)

Botanical Name Common Name Plant Form
ABIES spp. Fir tree
ADENOSTOMA fasciculatum Greasewood chamise shrub
ADENOSTOMA sparsifolium Red shanks shrub
COPROSMA pumila Prostrate coprosma groundcover
CORTADERIA selloana Pampas grass grass
ERIGONUM fasciculatum California buckwheat shrub
EUCALYPTUS globulus Blue gum tree
LARIX spp. Larch tree
LONICERA japonica Japanese honeysuckle vine
PICEA spp. Spruce tree
PICKERINGIA montana Chaparral pea shrub
PSEUDOTSUGA menziesii Douglas fir tree
SPARTIUM junceum Spanish broom shrub
TAXUS spp. Yew tree
THUJA spp. Arborvitae tree
TSUGA spp. Hemlock tree


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