.alt tolerant plants that show natural fire resistance. - PDF document

.alt tolerant plants that show natural fire resistance. notable exception is salt cedar, which is highly salt tolerant but contains extremely volatile oils and burns very hot. /lants that are more resistant to wild�re have one or more • They grow without accumulating large amounts of combustible dead branches, needles, or leaves (e.g. They have open, loose branches with a low volume of total vegetation (e.g. currant and mountain • They have low resin content (many deciduous • They have high-moisture content (succulents and some • They grow slowly and do not need frequent • They are short and grow close to the ground, such as small wildflowers and non-coniferous groundcovers. • They can re-establish following a fire, reducing the ARIZONA COOPERATIVE E TENSION Introduction Creating defensible space around your home is one of the most important and effective steps you can take to protect you, your family, and your home from catastrophic wildfire. Defensible space is the area between a structure and an oncoming wildfire (or between a burning structure and wildland vegetation) where nearby vegetation has been modified to reduce a wildfire’s intensity and ability ll vegetation, naturally occurring and otherwise, is potential fuel for fire. (ts type, amount and arrangement can have dramatic effects on fire behavior. There are no “fireproof” plant species. /lant choice, spacing and maintenance are critical; where and how you plant can be more important than what species you use. However, given options, choose plant species for your landscape that are Choosing FIREWISE Plants Keep in mind these general concepts when choosing • plant’s moisture content is the most important factor governing its volatility. However, resin content and other factors in some species keep them flammable even when the plant is well watered. Conifers such as pines, firs, spruces, junipers, and rizona cypress tend to be flammable due their oil and pitch content, their leaves have higher moisture content. lso, when trees drop their leaves in the winter, there is less fuel (n some cases, drought tolerance and �re resistance are related. Here are some general plant characteristics that can provide drought tolerance and increase �re resistance Drought-adapted plants that have smaller leaves or very succulent leaves that store water. , ft. and Higher Elevations Revised 12/11 AZ1289 Tom DeGomez, Je� .chalau, Chris Jones, and .teve Campbell At a Glance • BEREWESE landscaling can be aestheticallu • Llant choiceM slacingM and maintenance are • Uour landscaleM and the llants in itM must be maintained to retain their BEREWESE lrolerties. Manu native and local slecies are allrolriate 2 Water Sun / Mature Height Elevation (1000’) Acer glabrum N N Y Y Y Y Acer grandidentatum N Y Y Y Y Y Acer ginnala N Y Y Y Y Y Y Acer negundo Y Y Y Y Y Y N Alnus tenuifolia N ? Y Y Y Y Y Betula occidentalis N N Y Y Y Y N Catalpa speciosa ? Y Y Y Y ? ? Celtis reticulata Y Y Y Y Y N N Cotinus coggyria ? N Y Y Y ? ? Crataegus oxyacantha ? Y Y Y Y ? N Forestiera pubescens Y Y Y Y Y N N Fraxinus pennsylvanica N N N Y Y Y N Gleditsia tricanthos Y Y Y Y Y N N Juglans major Y Y Y Y Y N N Malus spp. Y Y Y Y Y Y ? Platanus x acerifolia ? ? Y Y Y Y ? Populus acuminata Y Y Y Y Y Y N Populus angustifolia N Y Y Y Y Y Y Populus tremuloides N N N Y Y Y Y Prunus americana Y Y Y Y Y Y ? Prunus virginiana N Y Y Y Y Y N Prunus padus N N Y Y Y Y N Robinia neomexicana L Y Y Y Y Y Y N Robinia pseudoacacia L Y Y Y Y Y Y N Sambucus nigra N Y Y Y Y Y Y Rate acre) Water Cool/ Warm Sun/ Mature Height (feet) Elevation (1000’) Achnatherum hymenoides U U U U U N N Agropyron smithii 11 - 17” N U U U U N N Bouteloua curtipendula Warm U U U U U N N FIREWISE Trees Water Needs: RL veru losM L losM M moderateM H high U uesM N not recommendedM ? ungnosn or doubtbul Grasses 3 Rate acre) Water Cool/ Warm Sun/ Mature Height (feet) Elevation (1000’) Bouteloua dactyloides bubbalograss " Warm U U U N N N N Bouteloua gracilis Warm N U U U U U N Elymus elymoides U U U U U U U Festuca arizonica 3 N N N N U U U Hesperostipa comata U U U U U U N Hilaria jamesii " Warm U U U U U N N Koeleria macrantha N U U U U U U Leptochloa dubia L Warm U U U U U N N Muhlenbergia rigens Warm U U U U U U N Muhlenbergia wrightii " Warm U U U U U U U Poa fendleriana U U U U U U U Sporobolus cryptandrus Warm U U U U U N N Stipa hymenoides U U U U U N N Grasses (cont’d) FIREWISE Shrubs Water Sun / Mature Height Elevation (1000’) Acer glabrum N N Y Y Y Y Agave parryi mescal/Larru’s agave N Y Y Y Y Y N Amelanchier alnifolia N Y Y Y Y Y Y Amelanchier utahensis Y Y Y Y Y N N Amorpha fruticosa Y Y Y Y Y N N Arctostaphylos uva-ursi N N N N Y Y Y Atriplex canescens L Y Y Y Y Y N N Berberis fremontii Bremont’s mahonia L Y Y Y Y Y N N Berberis repens ? Y Y Y Y Y Y Ceanothos fendleri bucgbushM Bendler’s ceanothus N N Y Y Y Y Y Cercocarpus intricatus ? ? Y Y Y ? N Cercocarus montanus N Y Y Y Y N N Chrysothamnus spp. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Cornus sericea N Y Y Y Y Y Y Dasiphora fruticosa N N N Y Y Y Y Fallugia paradoxa Y Y Y Y Y Y N Fendlera rupicola clibb bendlerbush Y Y Y Y Y N N Holodiscus dumosus ocean slrau/ rocg clibb/ rocg slirea N N Y Y Y Y Y Lonicera involucrata N N N N Y Y Y Nolina microcarpa 3 Y Y Y Y N N N Opuntia spp. 3 Y Y Y Y Y N N 4 Water Sun / Mature Height Elevation (1000’) Penstemon ambiguus Y Y Y Y N N N Physocarpus monogynus N N N N N Y Y Ribes aureum N Y Y Y Y N N Rosa woodsii Wood’s sild rose N N Y Y Y Y Y Shepherdia argentea silver bubbaloberru ? ? Y Y N N N Symphoricarpos spp. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Syringa vulgaris Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Yucca baccata Y Y Y Y Y N N Yucca elata Y Y Y Y N N N Yucca glauca Y Y Y Y Y Y N FIREWISE Shrubs (cont’d) Water Needs: RL veru losM L losM M moderateM H high U uesM N not recommendedM ? ungnosn or doubtbul Designing the Landscape When planning a F(1EW(.E landscape consider the The plants nearest your home should be more widely spaced and smaller than those farther away. Landscape according to the recommended defensible- Choose plants of high moisture content and low potential for flammability in particular, and remove /lant in small, irregular clusters and islands, not in • Break up the continuity of the vegetation with decorative rock, gravel, and stepping stone pathways. This will slow the spread of fire across your • 4se a variety of plant species to support a mixed and healthy landscape. Diversity of plants in the landscape will result in fewer insects and diseases Don’t Forget Maintenance landscape is a dynamic, constantly changing system. 8our landscape and the plants in it must be maintained to 1ake up and dispose of excess litter as it builds up over the season. 1emove annual plants after they have gone to seed 1emove any damaged plant parts. Timely pruning is critical. (t reduces fuel volume and maintains healthier • Mow or trim grasses to a low height within your defensible space. Keep grass shortest in the inner part of your defensible space and no more than 6 inches Be particularly vigilant with maintenance activities • 4se mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth. Mulch can be organic (wood chips or small bark pieces) or inorganic (gravel or rock). void pine bark, thick layers of pine needles or other materials • (n the event of drought and water rationing, prioritize the plants you wish to save. /rovide supplemental water to those nearest your home. Water trees and other plants during the winter dry periods, before water rationing becomes necessary in List of Fire Resistant Plant Materials for Arizona The list of trees and shrubs in this bulletin are plants that are known to have fire resistant characteristics. -o annual, biennial, or perennial flowers are listed; however, most do have fire resistant characteristics. Given the arid climate of 5 Any products, services or organizations that are mentioned, shown or indirectly implied in this publication do not imply endorsement by The University of Arizona. f Agriculture, Kirk A. Astroth, Interim Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. Tli Urmvivsmty sf Evmzsre ms er iuuel sttsvturmty0 ef�vmetmvi egtmsr mrstmtutmsr. Tli Urmvivsmty hsis rst hmsgvmmmreti sr tli besms sf vegi0 gslsv0 vilmgmsr0 six0 retmsrel svmgmr0 egi0 hmsebmlmty0 vitiver stetus0 sv sixuel svmirtetmsr mr mts tvsgvems erh egtmvmtmis. A A , A OMOMEZ EGIONAL SPECIALIANDEAGENT, ICULTUANDATUAL ROUCE EFFAU GENT, ICULTUANDATUAL ROUCE HRIS JONES SSOCIATEGENT, ICULTUANDATUAL ROUCE EVE CMPBELL SSOCIATEGENT, ICULTUANDATUAL ROUCE TACT OMOMEZ degomez@ag.arizona.edu This information has been reviewed by University faculty. cals.arizona.edu/pubs/natresources/az1289.pdf Originally published: 2002 Other titles from Arizona Cooperative Extension can be found at: cals.arizona.edu/pubs ARIZONA CO PERATIVE E TENSION THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Arizona FIREWISE Communities Cooperators University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Arizona State Forestry, Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, Arizona Fire Districts Association, Arizona Emivgirgy Wivvmgis Esssgmetmsr0 Evmzsre Plerrmrg Esssgmetmsr0 Buvieu sf Mrhmer Effemvs0 Buvieu sf Lerh Meregimirt0 Buvieu sf Riglemetmsr0 Mrtiv1Tvmbel Council of Arizona, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rizona and the fact that some of the species listed have higher water requirements, homeowners are encouraged to work closely with their county extension agent or a local plant materials specialist in selecting plants for use in their The listed grasses may also be used to reduce erosion or This publication is based on and borrowed heavily from publications titled “FIREWISE Plant Materials” by Chuck Dennis of the Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado State University and also by New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service. FIREWISE is a multi-agency program that encourages the development of defensible space and the prevention of catastrophic wildfire. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension