Fire Resistant Plants

I culled these from a variety of sources. New Mexico doesn't have much in the way of information resources available (yet, but can't be long now) for landscaping for fire safety. California, Colorado, Oregon--google their fire programs for more in depth info. Obviously, I deleted plants that weren't suitable for our growing environment. We're mountainous/high altitude, cool and very dry--if you're not, you'll have more choices.

Plants that are considered fire resistant are--deciduous/hard wood, or succulent, or non-resinous, or evergreen, or native, or short/dense. Again, plants need to be hydrated, and kept free of dead or dry leaves, etc.

Mountain Gardens carries most of the plants on the list, and many are available at other local nurseries. If you have questions about plants you may have that aren't listed, check with your local forestry or extension offices; they should be able to find the info you need. Please don't start ripping out your landscaping until you have good info--and remember that many plants can be retained if they're kept well pruned.

Here are a few links to some revealing photos and info--homes that survived wildfire due to maintaining the defensible space strategies in these last few blogs.

http://www.donaleaplantbrokers.com/FIRE!.htm

presentation /http://www.flickr.com/photos/kor-inc/sets/72157622816018398/detail/ 

firesafegarden.com

http://ucanr.org/sites/SAFELandscapes/

Groundcovers.

Antennaria rosea Pink pussytoes

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinnick

Aubrieta deltoidea Rock cress

Cerastium tomentosum Snow-in-summer

Delosperma cooperi Purple iceplant

Delosperma nubigenum Yellow iceplant

Dianthus species Dianthus, Garden carnation, or Pinks

Fragaria species Wild strawberry

Lamium species Dead nettle

Phlox subulata Creeping phlox

Sedum species Sedum or stonecrops

Sempervivum species Hens and chicks

Thymus praecox Creeping thyme

Veronica species Speedwell

Perennials

Achillea species Yarrow

Allium schoenoprasum Chives

Aquilegia species Columbine

Armeria maritima Sea thrift

Artemesia species

Aurinia saxatilis Basket-of-gold

Campsis radicans Trumpet vine

Coreopsis species Coreopsis or Tickseed

Delphinium varieties Delphinium

Echinacea purpurea Coneflower

Epilobium angustifolium Fireweed

Eriogonum Eriogonum raggaii or jamesii

Eurotia spp Winterfat (.)

Festuca Glauca—Blue Fescue

Fendlera rupicola Fendler brush Antelope brush

Gaillardia varieties Blanket flower

Geranium cinereum Grayleaf cranesbill

Helianthemum nummularium Sun rose

Hemerocallis species Daylily

Heuchera sanguinea Coralbells

Iris hybrids Iris, tall bearded

Kniphofiauvaria Torch lily or Red-hot poker

Lavandula species Lavender

Linum perenne Flax, blue

Lonicera species Honeysuckle

Lupinus varieties Lupine

Mirabilis Four O'clock spp

Oenothera species Evening primrose

Papaver orientale Oriental poppy

Penstemon species Penstemon or Beardtongue

Ratibida columnifera Prairie coneflower or Mexican hat

Salvia species Salvia or Sage

Stachys byzantina Lamb’s ear

Yucca species Yucca

Zauschneria Hummingbird Trumpet

Zinnia grandiflora Rocky Mountain zinnia

Shrubs—broadleaf evergreen

Arctostaphylos—Manzanita, kinnickinnick

Cotoneaster apiculatus Cranberry cotoneaster

Daphne x burkwoodii var. ‘Carol Mackie’ Carol Mackie daphne

Mahonia aquifolium Oregon grapeholly

Mahonia repens Creeping holly

DEX

Shrubs—deciduous

Acer glabrum Rocky Mountain maple

Amelanchier species Serviceberry

Caryopteris x clandonensis Blue-mist spirea

Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ Dwarf burning bush

Forestiera neomexicana New Mexico olive or privet, or Forestiera

Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage

Philadelphus species Mockorange

Potentilla fruiticosa Shrubby cinquefoil

Prunus besseyi Western sandcherry

Rhus species Sumac

Prunus tomentosa Nanking cherry

Ribes species Flowering currant

Rosa species Hardy shrub rose

Rosa woodsii Wood’s rose

Salix species Willow

Shepherdia argentea Silver buffaloberry
Shepherdia Canadensis Russett buffaloberry

Spiraea douglasii Western spirea

Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry

Syringa species Lilac

Viburnum trilobum Viburnum, Compact American

‘Compactum’ cranberry

Trees—conifer

Larix occidentalis Western larch

Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa pine

Trees—deciduous

Acer ginnala Amur maple

Acer grandidentatum Big tooth maple

Acer negundo Boxelder

Aesculus hippocastanum Horsechestnut

Alnus rubra Red alder

Alnus tenuifolia Mountain alder

Betula species Birch

Catalpa speciosa Western catalpa

Celtis occidentalis Common hackberry

Cercis canadensis Eastern redbud

Crataegus species Hawthorn

Fagus sylvatica European beech

Fraxinus virginiana Green ash

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis. cvs Thornless honeylocust

Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky coffee tree

Juglans species Walnut

Malus species Crabapple

Populus angustifolia Narrowleaf cottonwood

Populus tremuloides Quaking aspen

Prunus ameriana Native plum

Prunus virginiana Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’ Canada red chokecherry

Quercus gambelii Gambel oak

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’ Purple Robe locust

Robinia neomexicana New Mexico Locust

Sorbus aucuparia Mountain ash

Eschscholzia californica California poppy