Fire-Resistant Plants For Oregon Home Landscapes

Fire-ResistantPlants forOregon HomeLandscapesSuggesting specifictypes of vegetationthat may reduce yourrisk from wildfire.Stephen FitzgeraldArea Extension Foresterand Associate ProfessorAmy Jo WaldoArea Extension Horticulture Agentand Assistant ProfessorOSU Extension Service1421 S. Hwy 97, Redmond, OR 97756

IntroductionOregon has manywildfire prone areas.In these places, fires are a natural part ofthe changing landscape. As homes arebuilt in these areas, special precautionsmust be taken by the homeowner to protect their property. Installation of fireresistive roofing is critical to preventingfirebrands from igniting the home from aroof fire. Well maintained fire-resistantvegetation and irrigated landscape is alsocritical within close proximity of a home.These actions DO NOT insure that yourhome will survive a wildfire, but theyprovide for a good chance of structuralsurvival. Implementation of FireFree[www.firefree.org] and FireWise[www.firewise.org] activities can alsosignificantly improve chances of a homesurviving a wildfire.Fire-resistant vegetation.When landscaping around a home, mosthomeowners are interested in creating alandscape that is aesthetically pleasing,compliments their home, and has variations in color, texture, flowers, and foliage.If your home is located in or adjacent toforests or rangeland, you should alsoconsider the flammability of plants withinyour home landscape.Flammable plant material in your landscape can increase the fire-risk aroundyour home. The 1991 Oakland Hills Fire inCalifornia is a prime example of how flammable plant material (Eucalyptus trees)can act as fuel and contribute to the intensity of a wildfire. Over 3,000 homes weredestroyed in that devastating wildfire.

Taking action.Homeowners should take active stepsto minimize or reduce the fuel and firehazard around their homes, includingplanting fire-resistant plants. Goodplacement and on-going maintenanceof fire-resistant trees, for example, can,in fact, help protect your home byblocking intense heat.[See Figure 1, next page]Making choices.There is a wide array of trees and otherplants to choose for your landscapethat are both attractive and fire-resistant. This publication provides a diverse list of plant material divided intoperennials, groundcovers, trees, andshrubs.Annuals.Annuals can be part of a fire-resistantlandscape if well watered and wellmaintained. We have not listed each ofthese due to the large number ofannuals available to the homeowner.Turf.A well maintained lawn can be includedin a fire-resistant landscape andserves well as an effective fuel break(See photo). For more information onlawn care and maintenance, check outavailable publications from your localOSU Extension Service.A Caution About Bark Mulch.Bark mulch is often used in homelandscapes. However, fire brands froma wildfire and cigarettes can ignite drybark mulch, conveying the fire to yourhome. If you landscape with barkmulch up against your home, makesure it remains moist to preventignition.

What are fireresistant plants?fire-resistantFire-resistant plants are plants that don treadily ignite from a flame or other ignition sources. Although fire-resistantplants can be damaged or even killed byfire, their foliage and stems don t contribute significantly to the fuel and, therefore, the fire s intensity.Fire Resistant does not mean fire proof.ResistantPlants that are fire-resistant havethe following characteristics:§ Leaves are moist and supple.§ Plants have little dead wood andtend not to accumulate dry, deadmaterial within the plant.§ Sap is water-like and does nothave a strong odor.Most deciduous trees and shrubs are fireresistant. However, it s important toremember that even fire-resistantplants can burn, particularly if they arenot maintained in a healthy condition.Figure 1

In contrast, plants that are highlyflammable have these general characteristics:§ Contain fine, dry or dead materialwithin the plant such as twigs,needles, and leaves.§ Leaves, twigs, and stems containvolatile waxes, terpenes, or oils.§ Leaves are aromatic (strong smellwhen crushed)§ Sap is gummy, resinous and has astrong odor.§ May have loose or papery bark.Both ornamental and native plants canbe highly flammable. An example of ahighly flammable ornamental shruboften planted in home landscapes isornamental juniper. Examples ofhighly flammable native shrubs includebitterbrush, manzanita, sagebrush,and ceanothus. Avoid planting theseplants around your home.-Adapted from University of CaliforniaCooperative Extension Hortscript, 1996, No. 18.Illustration by Robin Lee Gyorgyfalvy

How this list was developedThis list was developed by evaluatingfire-resistant plant lists developed forother regions and screening the scientific literature on plant flammability.Included in this list are plants adaptedto grow in Oregon in either irrigated ornon-irrigated landscapes. However,most of the plants on this list requiresome level of irrigation to survive during the dry summer months, particularly in central and eastern Oregon.The plants in this publication areadaptable in all regions of Oregonunless otherwise marked with anidentifying orange symbol. Plantsmarked with these symbols are suitableonly for the regions specified.KEY:CESW Central OregonEastern OregonSouthern OregonWestern Oregondeciding on which plants to* Beforepurchase for your yard, please checkwith your homeowners associationlandscape review committee.DisclaimerThe purpose of this document is to providehomeowners with guidance on ways tolandscape their property with fire resistantvegetation to help reduce losses from wildfiredamage. It contains suggestions and recommendations based on professional judgment,experience and research and is intended to serveonly as a guide. The authors, contributors andpublisher disclaim all warranties and guaranteeswith respect to the information in the documentand assume no liability or responsibility withrespect to the information.

GroundcoversAjuga reptansCarpet BugleweedDelosperma cooperiPurple/Pink IceplantArctostaphylos uva-ursiKinnikinnickDuchesnea indicaMock StrawberryCeanothus prostratusSquaw CarpetEcheveria speciesHens and ChicksCerastium tomentosumSnow-in-SummerFragaria speciesWild StrawberryCESSWDelosperma nubigenumYellow IceplantPachysandra terminalisJapanese Pachysandra

GroundcoversPhlox subulataCreeping PhloxThymus praecoxCreeping ThymeCESedum speciesSedum or StonecropsVinca minorPeriwinklePerennialsAchillea speciesYarrowArmeria maritimaSea ThriftAllium schoenoprasumChivesAurinia saxatilisBasket-of-GoldC Central OregonE Eastern Oregon

PerennialsBergenia cordifoliaHeartleaf BergeniaHelianthemumnummulariumSun RoseCarex speciesSedgesHemorocallis hybridsDayliliesCoreopsis speciesCoreopsisHeuchera speciesCoral BellsEpilobium angustifoliumFireweedHosta speciesHosta LiliesGeranium speciesCranesbillIris speciesIrisS Southern OregonW Western Oregon

PerennialsKniphofia uvuriaRed-hot PokerOenothera missouriensisEvening PrimroseOzark SundropsLinum perenneBlue FlaxPenstemon speciesPenstemonLupinus speciesLupineStachys byzantinaLamb’s EarC Central OregonE Eastern Oregon

Shrubs-broadleaf evergreenCotoneaster speciesCotoneasterMahonia repensCreeping HollyDaphne x burkwoodiivar. ‘Carol Mackie’Carol Mackie DaphnePachystima myrsinitesOregon BoxwoodSWSWGaultheria shallonSalalRhododendronmacrophyllumPacific RhododendronSWNeed PhotoLigustrum speciesPrivetRhododendronoccidentaleWestern AzaleaMahonia aquifoliumOregon GrapehollyYucca speciesYuccaS Southern OregonW Western Oregon

Shrubs - deciduousAcer circinatumVine MapleCornus stoloniferaRedosier DogwoodAcer glabrumRocky Mountain MapleEuonymus alatusBurning BushNeed PhotoAmelanchier alnifoliaPacific ServiceberryHolodiscus discolorOceansprayBuddleia davidiiButterfly BushPhiladelphus speciesMockorangeCaryopteris x clandonensisBlue Mist SpireaRhus speciesSumacCEC Central OregonE Eastern Oregon

Shrubs - deciduousRibes speciesFlowering CurrantSpiraea douglasiiWestern SpireaRosa woodsiiWood’s RoseSymphoricarpos albusSnowberrySpiraea x bumalda‘Goldflame’Goldflame SpireaSyringa speciesLilacTrees - evergreenCECSLarix occidentalisWestern LarchS Southern OregonPinus lambertianaSugar Pine 1W Western Oregon

Trees - evergreenPinus contortavar. murrayanaLodgepole Pine 1Pinus ponderosaPonderosa Pine1. - Foliage is moderatelyresistant to fire.Trees - deciduousSWAcer macrophyllumBigleaf MapleAcer rubrumvar. ‘Sunset’Sunset MapleAcer platanoidesNorway MapleAesculus hippocastanumHorsechestnutAlnus rubraRed AlderCercis canadensisEastern RedbudSWC Central OregonE Eastern Oregon

Trees - deciduousCESWAlnus tenuifoliaMountain AlderCornus floridaFlowering DogwoodBetula speciesBirchFagus speciesBeechCatalpa speciosaWestern CatalpaFraxinus speciesAshCeltis occidentalisCommon HackberryGleditsia triacanthosHoneylocustGymnocladus dioicusKentucky Coffee TreePrunus virginianaChokecherryS Southern OregonW Western Oregon

Trees - deciduousSWJuglans speciesWalnutQuercus garryanaOregon White OakLiquidambar styracifluaAmerican SweetgumQuercus palustrisPin OakMalus speciesCrabappleQuercus rubraRed OakPopulus speciesAspen/CottonwoodsRobinia pseudoacaciaBlack LocustSalix speciesWillowSorbus aucupariaEuropean Mountain AshSW

Notes

Plant descriptionsand availabilityFor a detailed description of the plants onthis list, consult local nurseries or refer tothe Sunset Western Garden Book and theA-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Thesepublications can be obtained at localbookstores or nurseries. If you are unableto find some of these plants locally, checkout the Oregon Association ofNurserymen s website for plant availabilityat:http://www.nurseryguide.comScroll down to Search For and click onPlants by Name. Type in the name of theplant you re interested in and the searchwill give you a list of nurseries that carrythe plant.Help us identify otherfire-resistant plantsIf you know of other fire-resistantplants suitable for Oregon,let us know. We will research yourplant and, if it fits the criteria,we will add it to the list.Contact us at:Stephen FitzgeraldPhone:(541) 548-6088, x16Email:Stephen.Fitzgerald@orst.eduAmy Jo WaldoPhone:(541) 548-6088, x12Email:Amyjo.Waldo@orst.edu

Photo AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsThe photos in this publication have beengathered from a wide variety of sources. Wewould like to recognize the following groupsand individuals for their helpful contributions.ForestryImages.orgPat BreenOregon State UniversityBrother Alfred BrousseauSt. Mary s College of CaliforniaKenneth M. GaleMosaic Tile CompanyWilliam R. HewlettCalifornia Academy of SciencesRobert PottsCalifornia Academy of SciencesDave PowellUSDA Forest ServiceJil M. SwearingenUSD National Park ServicesDean Wm. TaylorCalifornia Academy of SciencesAmy Jo Waldo & Stephen FitzgeraldOSU Extension ServiceCharles WebberCalifornia Academy of SciencesColorado Springs UtilitiesPaul WrayIowa State University

The Oregon State University ExtensionService provides research-based information to Oregonians in the areasof Agriculture, Forestry, Family andCommunity Development, 4H andYouth Development, and Marineand Watershed Resources.Additional Useful tate.or.uswww.deschutesimpact.org

plants can be damaged or even killed by fire, their foliage and stems don t con-tribute significantly to the fuel and, there-fore, the fire s intensity. Fire Resistant does not mean fire proof. Plants that are fire-resistant have the following characteristics: § Leaves are moist and supple. § Plants have little dead wood and