Create a fire-smart landscape by playing a zone defense
Read more about defensible landscaping
Note: There’s no completely fireproof plant. But click ahead for four plants that can slow a fire if they’re watered and pruned regularly.
Fire-smart plants: Bearberry
These mat-forming groundcovers have small green leaves that turn red in winter, and white to pinkish spring blooms.
Sun to light shade. Sunset climate zones A1–A3; 1–9, 14–24
Fire-smart plants: lavender
The plant’s leaves contain scented oils, but it’s slow to ignite if watered regularly. (It’s one of the few water-wise plants that’s also fire-wise.)
Full sun. Zones 8, 9, 12–24.
Fire-smart plants: monkey flower
Many of these narrow-leafed perennials are well adapted to the dry West. Some have orange blooms; others scarlet or bicolored.
Full sun or part shade. Zones vary by species.
Fire-smart plants: ice plant
Groundcovers with succulent leaves and daisylike flowers of bright pink (D. cooperi) or yellow (D. nubigenum).
Sun or light afternoon shade in hottest climates. Zones 2–24.
