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