Quick Guide
to
Firewise Shrubs
How to incorporate Firewise shrubs into your landscape:
Select the right plant for the right place, by choosing plants that are well adapted to the specic conditions where they are to be planted. Also consider the shrubs ammability characteristics. Highly ammable shrubs should be planted beyond the defensible space, 30 feet or more from the house. Moderately ammable shrubs may be planted in isolated landscape beds within the defensible space, at least 15 feet from the house. Low ammability shrubs can be planted within the defensible space, 6 feet or more from the house. Conduct routine landscape maintenance, such as pruning shrubs, to maintain vertical and horizontal separation from other plants. Periodically remove dead or diseased plant material from plants within your home landscape. Remember, there are no reproof plants. All plants and organic mulches burn in extreme weather or re conditions.
Did you know you can select shrubs based on their ammability?
Researchers at the USDA Forest Service, University of Florida, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed ammability categories to indicate how easily and intensely a shrub will burn.
Moderate Flammability
Use cautiously in isolated landscape beds within the defensible space, 15 feet or more from the house.
Missouri Botanical Garden Joseph A. Marcus Eurico Zimbres
High Flammability
Plant these shrubs 30 feet or more away from the house. Maintain them regularly.
Sten Porse J. S. Peterson Ted Bodner
Ashe juniper
Juniperus ashei
Wouter Hagens
Azalea
Azalea obtusum
Kurt Stueber
Blue holly
Ilex x meservea
Boxwood Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis
Ted Bodner Ted Bodner
Glossy abelia
Abelia x grandiora
Boris Bauer
Leyland cypress
Cupressocyparis leylandii
Dwarf yaupon
Ilex vomitoria
J. S. Peterson
Buxus microphylla var. koreana
Gallberry
Ilex glabra
Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Pipestem
Agarista populifolia
Rhododendron
Rhododendron x chionoides
Low Flammability
Shrubs suitable for planting within the defensible space; plant 6 feet or more from the house.
Missouri Botanical Garden C. and L. Loughmiller Ted Bodner Ted Bodner Ted Bodner
Adams needle
Yucca lamentosa
R. and E. Chambers Kurt Stueber
Anisetree
Illicium oridanum
Gary Cooper
Arrowwood
Viburnum dentanum
Wikipedia
Bayberry
Myrica pennsylvanica
Missouri Botanical Garden
Beautyberry
Callicarpa dichotoma
Bigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Wikipedia Glenn Kopp
Buttery bush
Buddleia davidi
J.S. Peterson
Camellia
Camellia japonica
Gary Cooper
Coontie
Zamia pumila
Kenpei
Foster holly
Ilex x attenuata
Gardenia
Gardenia jasminoides
Wikipedia William S. Justice
Kleins forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia
W. D. Bransford
Oakleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Ted Bodner
Oleander
Nerium oleander
Chris Evans
Pittosporum
Pittosporum tobira
Rosebay
Rhododendron maximum
Scarlet rethorn
Pyracantha coccinea
Shrubby cinquefoil
Potentilla fruiticosa
Opiola Jerzy
Sweet pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
Stefan Bloodworth
Walters viburnum
Viburnum obovatum
For more information, contact Annie Hermansen-Baez of the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at ahermansen@[Link], (352) 376-3271. Also visit: [Link]/products/[Link]
Weigela
Weigela orida
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Additional Resources
For more information on Firewise shrubs, see Selecting and Maintaining Firewise Plants for Landscapingat [Link]/products/fact_sheets/Selecting_Firewise_Shrubs.pdf To estimate the ammability of shrub and other plant species not shown here, see Preparing a Firewise Plant List for WUI Residents at [Link]/products/fact_sheets/Preparing_Firewise_Plant_List.pdf or [Link]/products/ammability_key.html For Firewise landscaping tips, see [Link]/products/fact_sheets/Selecting_Maintaining_Firewise_Plants_ [Link] and [Link]/products/fact_sheets/Reducing_Wildre_Risk.pdf
The photographs in this fact sheet were gathered from various sources. All copyrighted photographs in this publication were used with the permission of the photographers. Shrubs are listed in alphabetical order and not by their intensity of ammablity within each category.