Fire Retardant Plants

Fire Retardant Plants Fire retardant plants are those plants that do not catch fire easily from a flame or other ignition resources. These plants can be damaged by fire, but their foliage and stems don’t increase the intensity of the fire. Thus, resisting and retarding the fire. Many other factors also affect the plant’s fire characteristics, which include moisture level, age, chemicals, dead material, and total volume of the plant. These plants are really helpful during a bush fire. They will aid in resisting the spread of fire, thus, protecting your home and property. It is important to keep the fire retardant plants irrigated and well maintained. Fire retardant plants have the following characteristics:

• Their leaves are supple and moist.
• Dry material does not get accumulated in the plant because they have little deadwood.
• The sap does not have a strong odor, and it is more water-like.
• There is a fewer amount of resin materials.

Best Fire Retardant Plants:

Following are some of the fire retardant plants that are supportive during a wildfire:

1. French Lavender:

French Lavender is a fire-resistant plant that can grow in dry conditions. This will add charm to your landscape and will also help to defend during a bushfire. It can thrive in poor soils, so there is no need to add fertilizer. It can stay alive during an excessive drought, just water in the beginning or during hot temperatures.

2. Red Monkey Flower:

This beautiful monkeyflower gives birth to charming red blossoms. It has bright green leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers. This is a great food for a Hummingbird. This is a native species of California. This plant is also drought tolerant. Refrain from watering in direct summer because it might kill the plant.

3. California Fuchsia:

It is a native plant of California and coastal areas. It has beautiful orange-shaped funnel flowers. This plant is drought-resistant and needs little water when grown. It is a fire retardant plant and proved helpful during bushfires. As soon as the flowers are sprout, it is recommended to cut them back so they will again grow with fresh flowers.

4. Sage:

It is a low-maintenance plant. It is drought tolerant and fire-resistant. It has beautiful greyish green leaves. In the spring season, different colored spikes are grown, including purple, blue, white, and pink. It is planted in well-drained soil. For best results, the soil temperature should be between 60 to 70 degrees.

5. California Lilac:

California lilac is a colorful shrub that is fire retardant. It is a drought-tolerant plant, so it works best in fewer water conditions. Beautiful flowers of pink and purple colors grown in the spring season. It is native to North America and spread widely in wildlands. The specialty of this plant is it can fix the nitrogen content in the soil.

6. Society Garlic:

This is a common landscape plant with pink and purple flowers. It grows well in drought-prone regions. It is fire resistant plant and will not aggravate the fire situation. It has a marijuana-like smell which is why many people mistook this as a marijuana plant. However, it has a lot of medicinal uses.

7. Ornamental Strawberry:

The Ornamental Strawberry has used in fire-resistant plans where it covers the ground perfectly. It gives a bright look to your landscape. This plant can grow in poor soil, rocky and sandy areas. It should be cut in early spring for regrowth. Plus, it needs plenty of sunlight for fruit production.

8. Yellow Ice Plant:

The Yellow Ice plant grows on a very low level on the ground. It has succulent green foliage leaves. It produces bright yellow flowers like a daisy. This needs a very small amount of water to grow. It is a fire-safe plant, thus protecting your territory from wildfire. It thrives in medium, well-drained soil and needs full sun. It is native to South Africa.

9. Coreopsis:

Coreopsis plant has a specialty in that it can grow in a variety of soils. It is fire-resistant. Thus, it is a beautiful addition to the landscape. It needs low maintenance, and it is a drought-tolerant plant. It is commonly known as ‘Tickseed,’ with seeds having a close resemblance to ticks. They are native to North America, South America, and woodlands.

10. California Red Bud:

It is a colorful shrub with pinkish-white flowers. It is a fire-safe plant that is also drought tolerant. The thin stems have light green heart-shaped leaves, which become darker with time. It grows in a variety of soils and can withstand floods. It is one of California’s most attractive shrubs.

11. Lemonade Berry:

It is a small shrub with a variety of forms. It is native to Southwestern and Pacific Coastal California. The leaves of this plant are evergreen and leathery. They give a waxy appearance. It is a tough plant and easy to grow. It is a fire-resistant plant that will aid in protection from fire bush. Lemonade berry is drought tolerant and, once planted and established, will remain evergreen.

12. Oak:

It is one of the iconic trees in California. In addition to being fire-resistant, the canopies made by these trees can help in cooling. There are more than 500 species of oak trees. Besides, it also resists damages given by plants.

13. Lamb’s Ear

It has a soft appearance that gives a wool-like impression. It is a low-ground maintenance plant. It grows quickly, making it a good ground cover. It produces purple flowers in the spring season. In addition to the fire resistance, they are also resistant to rabbits and deer.

14. Yucca

Yucca is also known as ‘Our Lord’s Candle.’ It is edible throughout the year. It has sword-like leaves, which give it a beautiful appearance. It is a fire-resistant plant and regrows in areas where there was a bush fire. Yucca can thrive in well-drained soil and needs a lot of sun to grow. It can bear temperatures as cold as -12 degrees centigrade. The creamy white flowers bloom in full spring.

Conclusion:

It is imperative to know the characteristics of fire retardant plants to grow them. If you want to grow them in your landscape, then do consider the temperature and the type of soil before planting. If established well, these plants are a great source of help during a bush fire! Other Fire retardant plants – Ajuga repants, Antennaria rosea, Aubrieta deltoidea, Ceanothus prostratus, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Cerastium tomentosum, Dianthus species, Delosperma nubigenum, Delosperma cooperi, Fragaria species, Phlox subulata, Lamium species, Pachysandra terminalis, Sedum species, Sempervivum species, Thymus praecox, Veronica species, Achillea species, Allium schoenoprasum, Armeria maritima, Aquilegia species, Aurinia saxatilis, Campsis radicans, Bergenia cordifolia, Carex species, Coreopsis species, Echinacea purpurea, Delphinium varities, Epilobium angustifolium, Geranium cinereum, Gaillardia varities, Helianthemum nummularium, Heuchera sanguinea, Hemerocallis species, Hosta species, Kniphofia uvaria, Iris hybrids, Lavandula species, Linum perenne, Lonicera species, Lupine varities, Oenothera species, Papaver orientale, Ratibida columnifera, Stachys byzantine, Salvia species, Yucca species, Ceanothus gloriosus, Cistus purpureus, Cotoneaster apiculatus, Daphne x burkwoodii var. ‘Carol Magic’, Mahonia aquifolium, Mahonia repens, Gaultheria shallon, Paxistima myrtifolia, Rhododendron macrophyllum, Acer circinatum, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier species, Caryopteris x clandonensis, Cornus serica, Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’, Holodiscus discolor, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Philadelphus species, Rhamnus frangula ‘Columnaris’, Rhamnus frangula ‘Asplenifolia’, Prunus besseyi, Rhododendron occidentale, Ribes species, Rhus species,Rosa species, Salix species, Rosa woodsii, Spirea x bumalda, Spiraea douglasii, Symphoricarpos albus, Syringa species, Viburnum trilobum ‘Compactum’, Larix occidentalis, Pinus ponderosa, Acer ginnala, Acer rubrum, Acer macrophyllum, Aesculus hippocastanum, Alnus rubra, Alnus tenuifolia, Betula species, Catalpa speciosa, Celtis occidentalis, Cercise Canadensis, Cornus florida, Crataegus species, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus americana, Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis. Cvs , Gymnocladus dioicus, Juglans species, Liquidambar styraciflua, Malus species, Popular tremuloides, Platanus racemosa, Prunus virginiana, Quercus garryana, Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’, Quercus palustris, Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’, Quercus rubra, Sorbus aucuparia