City of Oakland
Watershed Improvement Program
Fire Wise Native Plants
The following includes a list of California native plants that have been identified as having low
flammability or being to some degree "fire resistant." The list of fire resistant plants includes
only those plants that are native to California. There are many other plants that have been
identified as fire resistant that are not native to California. Native species are being listed here
due to their adaptability to the local environment or for the habitat value they provide to the
native fauna.
Keep in mind that all plants will eventually burn. Plants that are not properly irrigated or pruned
or that are planted in an inappropriate climate zone will have increased fire risk. All of the plants
listed here were recommended in publications by the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection or the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
TREES
Common Name
Aspen, Cottonwood, Poplar
California Buckeye
Coast Live Oak
Madrone
Quaking aspen
Western redbud
White alder
Botanical Name
Populus spp.
Aesculus californica
Quercus agrifola
Arbutus menziesii
Populus tremuloides
Cercis occidentalis
Alnus rhombifolia
Plant Type
deciduous
deciduous
evergreen
evergreen
deciduous
evergreen
deciduous
SHRUBS
Common Name
Califonia wax myrtle
California fuschia, Hummingbird flower
California Lilac, Blueblossom
Botanical Name
Myrica californica
Zauschneria californica
Ceanothus thrysiflorus
Plant Type
evergreen
perennial
evergreen
Cify of Oakland
Watershed Improvement Program
pg. 1
www.oaklandpw.com/creeks/fireplants.htm
SHRUBS (cont.)
Common Name
Coastal wild gum
Coffeeberry
Creeping mahonia
Douglas iris, Pacific coast iris
Evergreen currant, Catalina perfume
Fremontia, Flannel Bush
Golden yarrow
Holly-leafed cherry
Lemonade berry
Manzanita
Monkey Flower
Pink flowering currant
Redberry, Red-berried buckthorn
Saltbush
Sandhill sage
Santolina lavender, Gray lavender
Showy Island snapdragon, Hummingbird
flower
Sonoma sage
Toyon
Western azalea
Wild ginger
Wooly blue curls, Romero
Botanical Name
Grindelia stricta venulosa
Rhamnus californica
Mahonia repens
Iris douglasiana
Ribes viburnifolium
Fremotodendron spp.
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
Prunus ilicifolia
Rhus integrifolia
Arctostaphylos
Mimulus longiflorus (Diplacus
longifolius)
Ribes sanguineum
Rhamnus crocea
Atriplex lentiformis breweri
Artemisia pycnocephala
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Plant Type
perennial
evergreen
evergreen
bulb
evergreen
evergreen
perennial
evergreen
evergreen
evergreen
evergreen
evergreen
deciduous
evergreen
evergreen
Galvezia speciosa
evergreen
Salvia sonomensis
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Rhododrendron occidentale
Asarum caudatum
Trichostema lanatum
perennial
evergreen
evergreen
perennial
perennial
perennial
Cify of Oakland
Watershed Improvement Program
pg. 2
www.oaklandpw.com/creeks/fireplants.htm
GROUND COVERS
Common Name
Thrift, Common thrift
White Yarrow
California poppy
Creeping red fescue
Wild strawberry, Sand strawberry
Gum plant, Coastal wild gum
Island alum root, Coral bells
Wax myrtle
Sage
Blue-eyed grass/ Yellow-eyed grass
Botanical Name
Armeria maritima
Achillea millefolium white
Eschscholzia californica
Festuca rubra
Fragaria chiloensis
Grindelia stricta
Heuchera maxima
Myrica californica
Salvia spp.
Sisyrinshium bellum/
Sisyrinshium californicum
Plant Type
evergreen
perennial
perennial
perennial
evergreen
perennial
perennial
evergreen
perennial
perennial grass
Highly Flammable Plants
The following is a list of plants (native and non-native) with a high rating for flammability.
Note: Those plants denoted with a "P" are considered pyrophytes: they almost attract fire.
Information for this list was taken from publications by the East Bay Municipal Utility District
and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
TREES
P
Common Name
Acacia
Arbor-Vitae
Bald Cypress
Blue Gum Eucalyptus
Cedar
Cryptomeria
Botanical Name
Acacia spp.
Thuja spp.
Toxodium spp.
Eucalyptus globulus
Cedrus spp.
Cryptomaria japonica (except dwarf)
Cify of Oakland
Watershed Improvement Program
pg. 3
www.oaklandpw.com/creeks/fireplants.htm
TREES (cont.)
Cypress
Cypress
Cypress, Cedar
Douglas Fir
Fir
Hemlock
Larch
P
Manna Gum Eucalyptus
Palm
Pepper Tree
P
Pine
Spruce
P
Sugar Gum Eucalyptus
Tamarix
Yew
Cupressocyparis
Cupressus spp.
Chamaecyparis spp. (except dwarf)
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Abies spp.
Tsuga spp.
Larix spp.
Eucalyptus viminalis
Palms (if fronds left untrimmed)
Schinus spp.
Pinus spp.
Picea spp.
Eucalyptus cladocalyx
Tamarix spp.
Taxus spp. (except dwarf)
SHRUBS
Common Name
Buckwheat
California sagebrush
P
Chamis, Greasewood
P
Coyote Brush
Hopseed Bush
Juniper
P
Red Shanks
Scotch/French/Spanish Broom
Botanical Name
Erigonum spp.
Artemesia californica
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Baccharis pilularis consanguinea
Dodonaea viscosa
Juniperus spp.
Adenostoma sparsifolium
Cytisus, Genista, Spartium
Cify of Oakland
Watershed Improvement Program
pg. 4
www.oaklandpw.com/creeks/fireplants.htm
GROUND COVERS
Common Name
Algerian Ivy
P
Coyote Brush
P
Juniper
Botanical Name
Hedera canariensis
Baccharis spp. (when overgrown)
Juniperus spp.
PERENNIALS
Common Name
Bamboo
Black Sage
Deer Grasses
Fountain Grasses
Grasses
Pampas grass
Botanical Name
Bamboo spp.
Salvia melilifera
Muehlenbergia spp.
Pennisetum setaceum
Miscanthus spp.
Cortaderia selloana
Cify of Oakland
Watershed Improvement Program
pg. 5
www.oaklandpw.com/creeks/fireplants.htm