Small-flowered penstemon Penstemon procerus Photo by Jim Cummins

Use fire-resistant plants to enjoy wildlife near your home

With the wildfire season ahead, and that spring itch to get some new plants in the ground, now’s the time to add or replace backyard plants with fire-resistant species that wildlife will use.

Fire-resistant does not mean fireproof, since any plant can burn. But some plants do not readily ignite or significantly add to the fuel load and a fire’s intensity.

Fire-resistant plants have moist and supple leaves, have little dead wood, and tend not to accumulate dry, dead material. Their sap is water-like and does not have resins or strong odors. Many deciduous trees and shrubs are fire-resistant.

An example of a highly-flammable plant that is often used in home landscapes is the juniper. It contains a lot of fine, dry, or dead needles that contain aromatic and volatile oils, and its sap is very resinous.

Native junipers are popular in backyard wildlife sanctuaries because they grow quickly to provide cover and winter berries for birds. If you use junipers or other flammable evergreens in your landscape, simply keep them out of the “defensible space” within 100 feet of your home or other structures.

Within that closer-in “defensible space,” consider planting these native fire-resistant species that are also used by wildlife:

For more information, a new Pacific Northwest Extension publication, “Fire-Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes,” is available through Washington State University Extension offices.