RELATED CONTENT
Fire reduction checklist- Remove needles, leaves, or other vegetative material from the roof of any structure.
- Remove or trim all vegetation a minimum of 10 feet from chimneys or stovepipes.
- Keep landscape clean, remove litter under trees and shrubs, prune out all dead wood.
- Remove dead and dried portions of ground covers and succulents.
- Leave space between shrubs and trees to prevent fire spread. Avoid continuous tree or brush canopies.
- Separate native shrubs by removing adjacent plants.
- Limit the number of specimen trees and shrubs within 30 feet of any structure.
- Tree crowns should not overhang the roof and should be pruned high enough to avoid ignition by a ground fire.
- Within 200 feet of structures consider removing common garden plants that have proven particularly flammable due to high brush buildup and foliage oils — such as cypress, fountain grass, large juniper, eucalyptus, pines, and other conifers. Many trees are distributed to the public by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department each year. These trees are solely intended for erosion control and windbreaks, and not for landscape purposes. It is recommended that these trees be planted a minimum of 200 feet from any structure and on the bottom two-thirds of any slope below a structure.
- Give special consideration to problem trees such as eucalyptus, palms and pines. Remove dead limbs, litter, dead fronds and loose bark from the ground as well as from the trunk of these trees.
Posted: June 5, 2009 5:39 p.m.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has posted a list of plants on the Web site www.bewaterwise.com that are fire resistant and well-suited to Southern California conditions.
Shrubs
California redbud: An interesting plant all year long, with magenta flowers on leafless stems in summer, followed by crimson seedpods and heart-shaped blue-green leaves. Deciduous, with yellow or red fall foliage falling away in winter to reveal smooth reddish brown trunks. Long lived, very drought tolerant, and flowers more profusely as it matures.
Monkey flower (Mimulus): This entire species is endorsed for use by San Diego County planners and the Los Angeles and Orange County fire departments. Be sure to check out the drought-tolerant varieties.
Ceanothus ‘concha’: This California lilac is a large shrub with a dense mass of dark green, one-inch leaves, with dark blue clusters of flowers appearing in spring. Requires good drainage; can tolerate summer water. Grows to six feet.
Sage (Salvia): Nothing evokes California quite like a sage-scented hillside. Beloved by hummingbirds and firefighters alike, the autumn sage pictured here is endorsed for use by the Orange County Fire Authority, while the entire sage species is endorsed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium): It appears on fire-resistant lists for California Native Plant Society, Western MWD (zone 3), San Diego County, and Orange County fire. However it is not on the approved list for Los Angeles County fire. Yarrow also can be used as a groundcover if mowed.
French lavender (Lavandula dentata): Although not a true California native, this attractive drought-tolerant plant is endorsed for Zone B use in Los Angeles County, and also makes fire-resistant lists for the Inland Empire and Orange and San Diego counties.
Trees
Coast live oak: Handsome shade tree. Round-headed with dense foliage, grows 20-70 feet tall. Smooth, dark grey bark, with leathery dark green leaves. Native to coastal central and Southern California.
California sycamore: Sycamores have delighted generations of Californians, and this particular variety is endorsed for use by the Los Angeles and Orange County fire departments, plus San Diego County.
Toyon (Hetereomeles arbutifolia): A classic California native, it has white flowers in the summer and berries in the winter, it gets good marks from Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and the Inland Empire.
Perennials and annuals
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum/californica): This sprawling plant is one of the few perennials listed by Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
Beard tongue (Penstemon palmeri): This particular variety is native to the Southland, but the entire species has been embraced by native plant enthusiasts and firefighters alike, and is approved for use in L.A., Orange and San Diego counties.
Groundcover
Wild strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis): Looking for a low-growing plant that you can plant next to your home? This species has the rare distinction of being approved by Los Angeles County fire department for any zone in your yard.
Email Article
Print Article
Sign Up for Our Qwik-e Newsletter
