Download the PDF Guide

Choosing the right fire-resistant plants and materials can beautify your suburban home and also help reduce your wildfire risk.

INSIDE THE HOME IGNITION ZONE

(0-5 FEET FROM YOUR HOME)

Best Practice

For the best protection, keep this area clear of all combustible materials. Use noncombustible hardscapes, such as concrete pavers, flagstone paths, decorative gravel (rock mulch), and natural stones.
The best option is to keep the area clear of plants, especially if you have combustible siding such as wood or vinyl.

Next Best Option

If you have noncombustible siding such as fiber-cement and you choose to have plants in this zone, limit your selection to varieties that grown no more than 12 inches in height. Be sure to water and care for any vegetation in this zone as any plant can become highly flammable if it is dead, dried out, or not well maintained.

Suitable Plants

African Daisy* Gazania spp. USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-10 Height: 6”-12” Blue Chalksticks Senecio serpens USDA Hardiness Zone: 9-11 Height: 10”-12” Carpet Bugleweed Ajua reptans USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Height: 4”-10” Coopertone Stonecrop Sedum nussbaumerianum USDA Hardiness Zone: 8-11 Height: 18” Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Height: 4”-6” Dead Nettle* Lamium [species] USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 8”-12” Dianthus (Garden Carnation)* Dianthus USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Height: 2”-12” Dwarf Plumbago Ceratostigma-plumbaginoides USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 8”-12”

Dwarf Tickseed Coreopsis auricualata ‘Nana’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Height: 6”-8” Evening Primrose* Oenothera [species] USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Height: 6”-12” Grayleaf Cranesbill Geranium cinereum USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Height: 4”-6” Japanese Pachysandra* Pachysandra terminalis USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 8”-12” Jelly Bean Plant Sedum x rubrotinctium USDA Hardiness Zone: 8-11 Height: 4”-8” Kinnikinnick Arctostaphyhylos uva-ursi USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-6 Height: 4”-8” Mahala Mat Ceanothus prostratus USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Height: 1”-3” Mexican Hens and Chicks Echeveria ‘Perle von Numberg’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 9-11 Height: 3”-5”

Purple Iceplant Delosperma cooperi USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-10 Height: 1”-4” Red Creeping Thyme Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9 Height: 3”-6” Rock Cress Aubrieta deltoidea USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Height: 3”-8” Rozanne Cranesbill* Geranium ‘Rozanne’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-10 Height: 20” Snow-in-Summer* Cerastium tomentosum USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Height: 6”-12” Speedwell Veronica [species] USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 1”-6” Sun Rose* Helianthemum nummularium USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7 Height: 8”-12”

PAST THE HOME IGNITION ZONE

(5+ FEET FROM YOUR HOME)

• Include at least 4 feet of space between plant/flower beds.
• For beds with different plant varieties, base spacing on the tallest plant’s maximum height and make sure the next bed is at least twice this length away. Also consider the maximum width of each plant to avoid creating very dense vegetation and to ensure adequate spacing between beds.
• Consider using hardscape materials between beds.
• Avoid creating long, continuous beds which could act as a path for fire.
• Privacy screens/hedge rows of arborvitaes, cedars, or other evergreens are not recommended. At a minimum, these should not encroach into the Home Ignition Zone or your neighbor’s wildfire resistant landscaping.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS (WITHIN 30 FEET OF YOUR HOME)

• Avoid combustible materials such as pine straw and wood mulch.
• Use noncombustible hardscapes such as concrete sidewalks, decorative gravel (rock mulch), and natural stones such as Mexican Beach pebbles

Suitable Plants

Basket-of-Gold Aurinia saxatilis USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Height: 8”-18” Spread: 1’-2’ Bearded Iris Iris hybrids USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-10 Height: 16”-30” Spread: 14”-24” Blanket Flower Gaillardia varieties USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-10 Height: 8”-36” Spread: 12”-24” Blue Flax Linum perenne USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-8 Height: 12”-20” Spread: 12”-14” Blue Glow Agave Agave ‘Blue Glow’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 8-11 Height: 1’-2’ Spread: 3’-5’ Chives Allium schoenoprasum USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Height: 12”-24” Spread: 20”-24” Coneflower Echinacea purpurea USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 2’-3’ Spread: 1’-2’

Daylily Hemerocallis species USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Height: 1’-4’ Spread: 1’-3’ Deliphinium Deliphinium varieties USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Height: 1’-7’ Spread: 1’-3’ Note: If used 5’-30’ from building, keep trimmed below 24”. Heartleaf Bergenia Bergenia cordifolia USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 12”-14” Spread: 12”-18” Hosta / Hosta Lily Hosta species USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 6”-36” Spread: 20”-24” Oriental Poppy Papaver orientale USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Height: 2’-3’ Spread: 1’-2’ Penstemon or Beardtongue Penstemon species USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Height: 4”-48” Spread: 6”-36” Prairie Coneflower / Mexican Hat Ratibida columnifera USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Height: 18”-24” Spread: 12”-14”

Salvia / Sage Salvia species USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Height: 18”-28” Spread: 24”-34″ Sea Thrift Armeria maritima USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Height: 6”-36” Spread: 20”-24” Sedges Carex species USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Height: 12”-18” Spread: 10”-12” Sun Rose Helianthemum nummularium USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7 Height: 8”-12” Spread: 12”-16” Tickseed Coreopsis species USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Height: 10”-24” Spread: 12”-18” Yarrow Achillea [species] USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Height: 6”-36” Spread: 20”-24” Yucca Yucca species USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-10 Height: 2’-4’ Spread: 2’-4’

Shrubs

Space between shrubs should be a minimum of 2 times the peak growth height of the shrub.

Blue-Mist Spirea Caryopteris x clandonensis USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-10 Spacing: 10’+ / Height: 3’-5’ Spread: 3’-5’ Boxwood Paxistima myrtifolia USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Spacing: 8’+ / Height: 1’-4’ Spread: 1’-4’ Bumald Spirea Spirea x Bumalda USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Spacing: 8’+ / Height: 2’-4’ Spread: 2’-4’ Creeping Holly Mahonia repens USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Spacing: 4’+ / Height: 12”-18” Spread: 2’ Dwarf Burning Bush Euonymus alatus compactus USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 4’-6’ Spread: 4’-6’ Grape Holly Mahonia aquifolium USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 5’-6’ Spread: 5’-6’ Lilac Syringa species USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Spacing: 30’+ / Height: 5’-15’ Spread: 6’-12’

Mockorange Philadelphus species USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: 16’+ / Height: 6’-8’ Spread: 6’-8’ Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9 Spacing: 18’+ / Height: 6’-9’ Spread: 3’-6’ Orchid Rockrose Cistus purpureus USDA Hardiness Zone: 8-10 Spacing: Min. 8’ / Height: 3’-4’ Spread: 3’-4’ Redosier Dogwood Cornus sericea USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-8 Spacing: 20’+ / Height: 7’-10’ Spread: 8’-10’ Rhododendron Rhododendron macrophyllum USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9 Spacing: 24’+ / Height: 6’-12’ Spread: 10’-12’ Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: 10’+ / Height: 3’-5’ Spread: 3’-4’ Salal Gaultheria shallon USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-8 Spacing: 20’+ / Height: 1’-10’ Spread: 3’-12’

Shrub Roses Rosa species USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-9 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 2’-6’ Spread: 2’-6’ Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Common Name: Snowberry USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 4’-6’ Spread: 4’-6’ Compact American Cranberry Viburnum trilobum ‘compactum’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-7 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 4’-6’ Spread: 4’-6’ Western Azalea Rhododendron occidentale USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9 Spacing: 10’+ / Height: 5’ Spread: 5’-10’ Western Sandcherry Prunus besseyi USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 4’-6’ Spread: 4’-6’ Wood’s Rose Rosa woodsii USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 3’-6’ Spread: 3’-6’ Western Spirea Spirea douglasii USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: 12’+ / Height: 3’-6’ Spread: 3’-6’

Tall Shrubs & Trees

• Trees should have their limbs trimmed so all branches, leaves, or needles are above 15 feet or
  your house’s roof line, whichever is tallest.
• >Consider using only 1 tall shrub or tree within 30 feet of your home. If you plant more than 1, make sure there is a minimum of 10 feet of space between them.
• Do NOT plant within the Home Ignition Zone or any area where the tree may eventually overhang your roof at its largest size. This could lead to a buildup of flammable debris on your roof. Additionally, the tree or shrub could serve as a large fuel source right next to your home. It could also fall on your home in a windstorm. Over time, root systems may also puncture your home’s underground plumbing and even cause foundation problems

Amur Maple Acer ginnala USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 15’-20’ Spread: 15’-20’ Big Leaf Maple Acer macrophyllum USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-7 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 30’-75’ Spread: 30’-50’ Birch Betula species USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 30’-40’ Spread: 20’-30’ Canada Red Chokecherry Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 20’-30’ Spread: 15’-20’ Chokecherry Prunus virginiana USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-6 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 20’-30’ Spread: 18’-25’ Common Hackberry Celtis occidentalis USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-50’ Spread: 35’-40’ Crabapple Malus species USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 15’-20’ Spread: 15’-20’ Note: Given the relatively short height, consider spacing more than 10 feet and make sure limbs are trimmed 3’-4’ above the ground. Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 25’-35’ Spread: 15’-20’ European Beech Fagus sylvantica USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 50’-60’ Spread: 35’-45’ Fernleaf Buckthorn Rhamnus frangula ‘Aspenifolia’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-7 Spacing: 24’+ / Height: 10’-12’ Spread: 6’-10’ Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 20’-30’ Spread: 15’-20’ Green Ash Faxinus pennsylvanica USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-60’ Spread: 20’-40’

Hawthorn Crataegus species USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 15’-20’ Spread: 10’-15’ Note: Given its relatively short height, consider using 2 times the height as proper spacing, and keep branches pruned above the ground. Horsechestnut Aesculus hippocastanum USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 10’-15’ Spread: 10’-15’ Kentucky Coffee Tree Gymnocladus dioicus USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-50’ Spread: 30’-40’ Mountain Alder Alnus tenuifolia USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 20’-25’ Spread: 15’-20’ Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 20’-30’ Spread: 15’-20’ Pin Oak Quercus palustris USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 50’-70’ Spread: 25’-40’ Purple Robe Locust Robinia pseudocacia ‘purple robe’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 30’-40’ Spread: 20’-30’ Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides USDA Hardiness Zone: 1-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 30’-40’ Spread: 12’-15’ Note: This tree will produce suckers to produce a grove of trees. Consider using outside of the 30-foot zone in a larger landscape setting. Red Alder Alnus rubra USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 45’-50’ Spread: 20’-30’ Red Oak Quercus rubra USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 60’-75’ Spread: 40’-50’ Rocky Mountain Maple Acer glabrum USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 10’-15’ Spread: 10’-15’

Sumac Rhus species USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Spacing: > 30’ / Height: 2’-20’ Spread: 4’-15’ Tallhedge Rhamnus frangula ‘Columnaris’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-7 Spacing: 24’+ / Height: 8’-12’ Spread: 3’-4’ Thornless Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis. cvs USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 35’-40’ Spread: 30’-50’ Vine Maple Acer circinatum USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 15’-20’ Spread: 15’-20’ Walnut Juglans species USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-60’+ Spread: 30’-50’ Western Catalpa Catalpa speciosa USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-50’ Spread: 20’-25’ Western Larch Lariz occidentalis USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 100’-180’ Spread: 30’-40’ Note: Keep branches trimmed to a height of at least 15 feet. Western Sycamore / California Sycamore Platanus racemosa USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-80’ Spread: 50’-70’ White Ash Faxinus americana USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-60’ Spread: 20’-40’ White Oak Quercus garryana USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9 Spacing: > 10’ / Height: 40’-90’ Spread: 30’-60′

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact your local extension office to get specific guidance for your climate or region.

Note that landscaping with fire-resistant plants is essential to making a meaningful reduction in the wildfire risk to your home; however, there is no guarantee this will eliminate all risk. To learn about additional steps you can take to reduce your home’s risk, visit Wildfire Ready on disastersafety.org.