Fire Resistant Plants

Incorporating fire-wise design into our landscaping is becoming more of an imperative these days, especially on the East coast of both islands. There are no “fire-proof” plants but there are certainly plants which resist heat and ignition from embers to some extent.

Permaculture design will identify your fire ‘zone’ – the direction from which fire is most likely to come, and you can design accordingly, although you should always be prepared for fire coming from any direction.

Use the following ideas to help with fire-wise design, then browse the plants in this category:

• Keep a ‘defensible zone’ around the house with no trees higher than the house, well-irrigated gardens, patios, ponds, paths, and lawn. For mulch use gravel, stones or heavy bark mulch. Choose high moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content, e.g. succulents.
• Strategically place fire breaks of low flammability species to ‘catch’ embers before they reach your house.
• Choose plant species that resist ignition:
• Avoid plants containing oils and resins which ignite easily from sparks ahead of a fire.
• Choose broad-leafed deciduous trees in preference to evergreens and conifers. Luckily many fruit trees are suitable.
• Avoid plants which hold a lot of dead material and have evenly spaced small twigs along branches.
• Browse the fire-resistant category of plants we offer: